Field-Induced Transition on Triangular Plane in the Spin Ice Compound Dy2Ti2O7

TL;DR

This study reveals a field-induced transition in Dy2Ti2O7 spin ice, driven by beyond-nearest-neighbor interactions, clarified through low-temperature susceptibility measurements on single crystals.

Contribution

It provides the first direct evidence that dipolar interactions beyond nearest neighbors are crucial for the field-induced transition in Dy2Ti2O7.

Findings

Transition occurs under specific field conditions canceling nearest-neighbor interactions.

Transition is driven solely by interactions beyond nearest neighbors.

Provides qualitative evidence for the importance of long-range dipolar interactions.

Abstract

The origin of the lowest-temperature anomaly reported several years ago using a polycrystalline sample of the spin ice compound Dy2Ti2O7 had remained unresolved. Here we finally clarify its origin by susceptibility measurements down to 65 mK using single crystals under accurate control of the magnetic fields in two independent directions. We demonstrate that the transition is induced under a subtle field combination that precisely cancel the nearest-neighbor spin interactions acting on the spins on the triangular lattice within the pyrochlore structure. Contrary to the other two fieldinduced transitions, this transition is driven only by the interactions beyond the nearest neighbors. Our observation thus provides the first qualitative evidence for the essential importance of the dipolar interaction beyond the nearest neighbors in the spin ice.