Evidence for Magnetic Ordering Associated with Metal-Insulator Transition in SmRu4P12 Studied by Muon Spin Relaxation

TL;DR

This study provides evidence of magnetic ordering associated with the metal-insulator transition in SmRu4P12, suggesting magnetic octupolar ordering rather than non-magnetic quadrupolar ordering, as revealed by muon spin relaxation measurements.

Contribution

It demonstrates the presence of magnetic ordering below TMI in SmRu4P12, supporting the hypothesis of magnetic octupolar ordering in this compound.

Findings

Magnetic ordering appears below TMI in SmRu4P12.

Muon spin relaxation detects magnetic order associated with the transition.

Supports magnetic octupolar ordering scenario in SmRu4P12.

Abstract

Muon spin relaxation measurements on the filled skutterudite compound SmRu4P12 have been carried out in zero- and longitudinal-fields. Temperature dependence of both initial asymmetry and muon-spin depolarization rate show the appearance of a magnetically ordered state below the metal-insulator transition temperature TMI. The present study indicates that the ordering below TMI is not a non-magnetic antiferro-quadrupolar ordering but a magnetic one, which supports a scenario that a magnetic octupolar ordering occurs below TMI in SmRu4P12.