# Magnetic frustration and spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking in PdCrO2

## TL;DR

This study reveals how magnetic frustration in PdCrO2 leads to spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking, enabling long-range antiferromagnetic order despite lattice frustration, with stress influencing magnetic disorder.

## Contribution

It demonstrates the spontaneous symmetry breaking mechanism relieving interlayer frustration in PdCrO2 using neutron scattering and resistivity measurements.

## Key findings

- Long-range 120° antiferromagnetic order at 38 K
- Spontaneous lifting of three-fold rotational symmetry
- Uniaxial stress suppresses magnetic disorder

## Abstract

In the triangular layered magnet PdCrO2 the intralayer magnetic interactions are strong, however the lattice structure frustrates interlayer interactions. In spite of this, long-range, 120$^\circ$ antiferromagnetic order condenses at $T_N = 38$~K. We show here through neutron scattering measurements under in-plane uniaxial stress and in-plane magnetic field that this occurs through a spontaneous lifting of the three-fold rotational symmetry of the nonmagnetic lattice, which relieves the interlayer frustration. We also show through resistivity measurements that uniaxial stress can suppress thermal magnetic disorder within the antiferromagnetic phase.