Competing Ground States in Triple-layered Sr4Ru3O10: Verging on Itinerant Ferromagnetism with Critical Fluctuations

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex magnetic and electronic behaviors of Sr4Ru3O10, revealing a delicate balance between fluctuations and order that suggests an exotic ground state near itinerant ferromagnetism.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental insights into the competing ground states and critical fluctuations in Sr4Ru3O10, highlighting its proximity to itinerant ferromagnetism.

Findings

Quantum oscillations in resistivity at B||c-axis

Large magnetoresistivity with critical fluctuations

Absence of a clear, conventional ground state

Abstract

Sr4Ru3O10 is characterized by a sharp metamagnetic transition and ferromagnetic behavior occurring within the basal plane and along the c-axis, respectively. Resistivity at magnetic field, B, exhibits low-frequency quantum oscillations when B||c-axis and large magnetoresistivity accompanied by critical fluctuations driven by the metamagnetism when B^c-axis. The complex behavior evidenced in resistivity, magnetization and specific heat presented is not characteristic of any obvious ground states, and points to an exotic state that shows a delicate balance between fluctuations and order.