# Physical properties of a candidate quantum spin-ice system Pr2Hf2O7

## TL;DR

This study investigates the physical properties of Pr2Hf2O7, revealing its potential as a quantum spin-ice candidate through structural, magnetic, and neutron scattering analyses.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive characterization of Pr2Hf2O7, including crystal field analysis and magnetic behavior, establishing its suitability as a quantum spin-ice system.

## Key findings

- No long-range magnetic order down to 90 mK
- Presence of slow spin dynamics and spin freezing
- Crystal field analysis confirms Ising anisotropy

## Abstract

Physical properties of a pyrohafnate compound Pr2Hf2O7 have been investigated by ac magnetic susceptibility \chi_ ac(T), dc magnetic susceptibility \chi(T), isothermal magnetization M(H) and heat capacity C_p(T) measurements on polycrystalline as well as single crystal samples combined with high-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) for structural characterization and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to determine the crystal field energy level scheme and wave functions. Synchrotron XRD data confirm the ordered cubic pyrochlore (Fd-3m) structure without any noticeable site mixing or oxygen deficiency. No clear evidence of long range magnetic ordering is observed down to 90 mK, however the \chi_ac(T) evinces slow spin dynamics revealed by a frequency dependent broad peak associated with spin freezing. The INS data reveal the expected five well defined magnetic excitations due to crystal field splitting of the J = 4 ground state multiplet of the Pr^3+. The crystal field parameters and ground state wavefunction of Pr^3+ have been determined. The Ising anisotropic nature of magnetic ground state is inferred from the INS as well as \chi(T) and M(H) data. Together these properties make Pr2Hf2O7 a candidate compound for quantum spin-ice behavior.