Candidate Quantum Spin Liquid in the Ce\textsuperscript{3+} Pyrochlore Stannate Ce$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$

TL;DR

This study investigates Ce$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$, revealing it as a candidate quantum spin liquid with antiferromagnetic correlations and no long-range order down to very low temperatures, highlighting strong quantum fluctuations.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence for a quantum spin liquid state in Ce$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$, a rare-earth pyrochlore, with detailed magnetic property measurements.

Findings

No long-range magnetic order observed below 0.02 K.

Ce$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$ exhibits antiferromagnetic correlations.

Strong quantum fluctuations suggest a quantum spin liquid state.

Abstract

We report the low temperature magnetic properties of Ce$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$, a rare-earth pyrochlore. Our susceptibility and magnetization measurements show that due to the thermal isolation of a Kramers doublet ground state, Ce$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$ has Ising-like magnetic moments of $\sim1.18$ $\mu_\mathrm{B}$. The magnetic moments are confined to the local trigonal axes, as in a spin ice, but the exchange interactions are antiferromagnetic. Below 1 K the system enters a regime with antiferromagnetic correlations. In contrast to predictions for classical $\langle 111 \rangle$-Ising spins on the pyrochlore lattice, there is no sign of long-range ordering down to 0.02 K. Our results suggest that Ce$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$ features an antiferromagnetic liquid ground state with strong quantum fluctuations.