Staggered magnetism in LiV$_2$O$_4$ at low temperatures probed by the muon Knight shift

TL;DR

This study uses muon Knight shift measurements to reveal inhomogeneous local magnetic moments and magnetic frustration in LiV₂O₄ at low temperatures, challenging the heavy-fermion Kondo model.

Contribution

It provides direct experimental evidence of magnetic frustration and inhomogeneous moments in LiV₂O₄, contrasting with expectations from the Kondo heavy-fermion framework.

Findings

Broad distribution of Knight shifts indicating inhomogeneous moments

Approximately 10% of the sample shows a non-magnetic component

Magnetic frustration likely causes the anomalous properties

Abstract

We report on the muon Knight shift measurement in single crystals of LiV2O4. Contrary to what is anticipated for the heavy-fermion state based on the Kondo mechanism, the presence of inhomogeneous local magnetic moments is demonstrated by the broad distribution of the Knight shift at temperatures well below the presumed "Kondo temperature" ($T^*\simeq 30$ K). Moreover, a significant fraction ($\simeq10$ %) of the specimen gives rise to a second component which is virtually non-magnetic. These observations strongly suggest that the anomalous properties of LiV2O4 originates from frustration of local magnetic moments.