New angles on the border of antiferromagnetism in NiS2 and URu2Si2

• Published in: Physica. B, Condensed matter Condensed matter, 2009-10, Vol.404 (19), p.2955-2960
• Main Authors: Niklowitz, P.G., Pfleiderer, C., Mühlbauer, S., Böni, P., Keller, T., Link, P., Wilson, J.A., Vojta, M., Mydosh, J.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Border of antiferromagnetism; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Elliptic neutron guides; Exact sciences and technology; Hidden order in [formula omitted]; High pressure; Larmor diffraction; Magnetic properties and materials; Physics; Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials (including neutron and spin-polarized electron studies, synchrotron-source x-ray scattering, etc.)
• ISSN: 0921-4526; 1873-2135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physb.2009.07.026

Following the border of antiferromagnetism (AF) to zero temperature is a promising route to unconventional metallic and superconducting phases. Many interesting examples of antiferromagnetic quantum phase transitions can only be reached by pressure tuning. The range of quantitative experimental probes, which can be realised in a high-pressure environment is limited. However, advances have recently been made in neutron scattering, where elliptically shaped neutron guides now increase the beam intensity directed to mm size sample for high pressure studies. This has been demonstrated on the simple antiferromagnet NiS2. Neutron scattering also allows highly accurate measurements of the lattice constant via the Larmor diffraction technique, which proved extremely useful in studying the high-pressure phase diagram of the itinerant helimagnet MnSi. We now combined Larmor diffraction with conventional diffraction measurements to investigate the pressure–temperature phase diagram of URu2Si2 up to 20kbar. URu2Si2 offers a further spectacular example for the presence of unconventional phases in the vicinity of antiferromagnetism. In this compound, antiferromagnetism is replaced below approximately 5kbar by the mysterious “hidden order” (HO) and unconventional superconductivity. Our measurements allow the observation of magnetic order and changes in the a- and c-axis lattice constants across the phase transitions in the same experiment. The results contain clear indications of a first-order transition and strong differences between the AF phase and the HO phase in the coupling to the lattice.