Quadrupolar and magnetic ordering in CeB6

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model explaining quadrupolar and magnetic ordering in CeB_6, including the effects of magnetic fields and the interplay between quadrupolar and magnetic phases.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized spherical model for quadrupolar ordering in CeB_6, accounting for magnetic field effects and the relationship between quadrupolar and magnetic orderings.

Findings

Quadrupolar transition temperature T_Q(H) increases linearly with magnetic field.

The model predicts re-entrance of quadrupolar ordering under certain conditions.

Specific heat jump at T_Q(H) grows with increasing magnetic field.

Abstract

The quadrupolar ordering in CeB_6 is explained in terms of the electrostatic interaction of quadrupolar moments arranged into a simple cubic lattice. The representation of magnetic and quadrupolar moments by means of quasispins of two kinds is employed. A linear increase of the quadrupolar transition temperature T_Q(H) with applied magnetic field and its further re-entrance are described using a generalized spherical model which is well adjusted to a particular problem of the quadrupolar ordering in CeB_6. The theory naturally explains the growing specific heat jump at T_Q(H) with increasing magnetic field. The role of the quadrupolar ordering in the formation of the magnetic ordering, as well as the possible critical experiments and applications to other rare-earth compounds, are discussed.