Dynamics of Magnetic Defects in Heavy Fermion LiV2O4 from Stretched Exponential 7Li NMR Relaxation

TL;DR

This study investigates how magnetic defects influence 7Li NMR relaxation in LiV2O4 at low temperatures, revealing glassy defect dynamics and providing a model for relaxation rate distribution.

Contribution

It introduces a model linking magnetic defect dynamics to stretched exponential relaxation in LiV2O4, explaining previous puzzling NMR data.

Findings

Magnetic defects cause a transition from exponential to stretched exponential relaxation.

The relaxation rate distribution is explained by defect dynamics.

Results suggest the model's applicability to other glassy magnetic systems.

Abstract

7Li NMR measurements on LiV2O4 from 0.5 to 4.2 K are reported. A small concentration of magnetic defects within the structure drastically changes the 7Li nuclear magnetization relaxation versus time from a pure exponential as in pure LiV2O4 to a stretched exponential, indicating glassy behavior of the magnetic defects. The stretched exponential function is described as arising from a distribution of 7Li nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rates and we present a model for the distribution in terms of the dynamics of the magnetic defects. Our results explain the origin of recent puzzling 7Li NMR literature data on LiV2O4 and our model is likely applicable to other glassy systems.