Palmer-Chalker correlations in the XY pyrochlore antiferromagnet Er2Sn2O7

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic properties of Er2Sn2O7, revealing it does not order magnetically down to very low temperatures but exhibits Palmer-Chalker correlations consistent with XY pyrochlore antiferromagnet predictions.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of Palmer-Chalker correlations in Er2Sn2O7, highlighting the role of dipolar interactions in its magnetic behavior.

Findings

No magnetic order down to 100 mK

Presence of Palmer-Chalker short-range correlations

Dipolar interactions influence magnetic properties

Abstract

\ersn\, is considered, together with \erti, as a realization of the XY antiferromagnet on the pyrochlore lattice. We present magnetization measurements confirming that \ersn\, does not order down to 100 mK but exhibits a freezing below 200 mK. Our neutron scattering experiments evidence the strong XY character of the \er moment and point out the existence of short range correlations in which the magnetic moments are in peculiar configurations, the Palmer-Chalker states, predicted theoretically for an XY pyrochlore antiferromagnet with dipolar interactions. Our estimation of the \ersn\, parameters confirm the role of the latter interactions on top of relatively weak and isotropic exchange couplings.