The Fermi volume as a probe of hidden order

TL;DR

This paper shows that precise measurements of the Fermi surface volume via de Haas-van Alphen oscillations can reveal changes in localized electronic states and order parameters in heavy fermion systems, especially at very low temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces a method to probe hidden electronic order parameters through Fermi surface volume measurements, demonstrated in the AFQ phase of PrOs4Sb12.

Findings

Fermi surface volume correlates with Pr f-electron state occupancy.

Fermi surface expansion/shrinkage tracks AFQ order parameter changes.

Hyperfine coupling influences the order parameter below 300 mK.

Abstract

We demonstrate that the volume of the Fermi surface, measured very precisely using de Haas-van Alphen oscillations, can be used to probe changes in the nature and occupancy of localized electronic states. In systems with unconventional ordered states, this allows an underlying electronic order parameter to be followed to very low temperatures. We describe this effect in the field-induced antiferroquadrupolar (AFQ) ordered phase of PrOs4Sb12, a heavy fermion intermetallic compound. We find that the phase of de Haas-van Alphen oscillations is sensitively coupled, through the Fermi volume, to the configuration of the Pr f-electron states that are responsible for AFQ order. In particular, the \beta-sheet of the Fermi surface expands or shrinks as the occupancy of two competing localized Pr crystal field states changes. Our results are in good agreement with previous measurements, above 300 mK, of the AFQ order parameter by other methods. In addition, the low temperature sensitivity of our measurement technique reveals a strong and previously unrecognized influence of hyperfine coupling on the order parameter below 300 mK within the AFQ phase. Such hyperfine couplings could provide insight into the nature of hidden order states in other systems.