Investigation into the Itinerant metamagnetism of Sr3Ru2O7 for the Field Parallel to the Ruthenium Oxygen Planes

TL;DR

This study explores the complex metamagnetic behavior of Sr3Ru2O7 under magnetic fields parallel to its ruthenium oxygen planes, revealing multiple transitions and critical points through detailed experimental analysis.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the multiple metamagnetic transitions and critical points in Sr3Ru2O7, especially in high-quality samples, expanding understanding of its magnetic phase diagram.

Findings

Identification of a finite temperature critical point at 5 T

Observation of two-step metamagnetic transitions at 5.8 T and 6.3 T

Splitting of transitions at low temperatures indicating complex magnetic behavior

Abstract

We report a detailed investigation into the metamagnetism of Sr3Ru2O7 at low temperatures for the magnetic field parallel to the ruthenium oxygen planes. The metamagnetism is studied as a function of temperature, magnetic field and sample quality using magnetisation, magnetotransport and specific heat as probes. From hysteretic behaviour in the magnetisation, we confirm earlier work and observe a finite temperature critical point at (5 T, >0.25 K). In our highest quality samples two-step metamagnetic transitions are additionally observed at 5.8 T and at 6.3 T, which coincide with a range of broad maximum in the magnetoresistance. At low temperatures, these two metamagnetic features each further split in two. Such behaviour of the multiple transitions are qualitatively different from the first order transition at 5.1 T.