High magnetic field thermal-expansion and elastic properties of CeRhIn$_5$

TL;DR

This study investigates the effects of high magnetic fields on the thermal-expansion and elastic properties of CeRhIn$_5$ single crystals, revealing multiple magnetic transitions and insights into spin-lattice interactions.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on magnetic field-induced transitions and clarifies the role of magnetic correlations in elastic properties of CeRhIn$_5$.

Findings

Multiple magnetic transitions observed under high magnetic fields.

Thermal-expansion behavior consistent with a specific ground state doublet.

Weak influence of magnetic correlations on elastic properties.

Abstract

We report high magnetic field thermal-expansion and magnetostriction results on CeRhIn$_5$ single crystals. Several transitions, both first and second order, are observed when the field is applied perpendicular to the crystallographic c-axis. The magnetic field dependence of the thermal-expansion coefficient above 15 K, where the magnetic correlations are negligible, can be explained supposing an almost pure $| \pm 5/2>$ ground state doublet, in apparent contradiction with neutron scattering experiments. Although the spin-lattice interaction is relevant in this compound, the effect of the magnetic correlations on the elastic properties is relatively weak, as revealed by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy experiments.