An intermediate state between the kagome-ice and the fully polarized state in Dy$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$

TL;DR

This study investigates the phase transition in Dy$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ spin-ice material, revealing an intermediate state not predicted by existing models, through experimental and simulation methods.

Contribution

It uncovers an intermediate magnetic state in Dy$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ during the transition, challenging current theoretical models of spin-ice behavior.

Findings

Identification of an intermediate state between kagome-ice and full polarization.

Signatures of this state are absent in existing theoretical models.

Experimental results differ from predictions of current spin-ice theories.

Abstract

Dy$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ is at present the cleanest example of a spin-ice material. Previous theoretical and experimental work on the first-order transition between the kagome-ice and the fully polarized state has been taken as a validation for the dipolar spin-ice model. Here we investigate in further depth this phase transition using ac-susceptibility and dc-magnetization, and compare this results with Monte-Carlo simulations and previous magnetization and specific heat measurements. We find signatures of an intermediate state between the kagome-ice and full polarization. This signatures are absent in current theoretical models used to describe spin-ice materials.