Magnetic state dynamics in itinerant paramagnet UM3B2 (M= Co, Ir) probed by 11B NMR

TL;DR

This study uses $^{11}$B NMR to explore the magnetic state dynamics and low-dimensional characteristics of itinerant paramagnetic U$M_{3}$B$_{2}$ ($M=$ Co, Ir), revealing temperature-dependent ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic correlations.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the magnetic correlations and structural features of U$M_{3}$B$_{2}$, highlighting the coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic correlations at different temperatures.

Findings

Ferromagnetic correlations dominate above 50 K.

Antiferromagnetic correlations emerge below 50 K.

Coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic correlations at low temperatures.

Abstract

We have carried out the $^{11}$B NMR measurement on the itinerant paramagnetic systems U$M_{3}$B$_{2}$ ($M =$ Co, Ir) to investigate the low-dimensional characteristics of the $5f$-electrons due to the structural anisotropy. The recent X-ray analysis suggests that UIr$_3$B$_2$ has a different structure modulated from the ever-known superlattice. The azimuth angle variation of NMR spectrum within the $ab$-plane clarified that B atoms occupy the single site, and a certain ligands arrangement surrounding B atom turns to the same orientation as the another one through the three- or six-fold rotation around the c-axis. These results have been consistent with the X-ray proposition. To evaluate the temperature ($T$) development of general susceptibility ($\chi_{q,\omega}$), Knight shift and nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rates measurements were performed and the similar variations of $\chi_{q,\omega}$ were identified in both UCo$_{3}$B$_{2}$ and UIr$_{3}$B$_{2}$. Above a crossover point defined as $T^{*}\simeq50$ K, the evolution of $\chi_{q,\omega}$ is dominant at $q=0$, suggesting that ferromagnetic correlations develop in high-$T$ regimes; meanwhile, below $T^{*}$, the $q=0$ part in $\chi_{q,\omega}$ shows the saturation tendency, and a different class of dispersion at finite-$q$ suddenly emerges. This particular magnetic correlations are interpreted as the antiferromagnetic correlations, and notable feature of the magnetic state dynamics in low-$T$ regimes is that the antiferromagnetic correlations arise together with the ferromagnetic component at the same time. The unique magnetic correlations obtained from NMR experiment will be discussed by the possible low-dimensionality of U$M_{3}$B$_{2}$ lattice.