Effect of uniaxial stress on the magnetic phases of CeAuSb2

Abstract

We present results of measurements of resistivity of CeAuSb2 under the combination of c-axis magnetic field and in-plane uniaxial stress. In unstressed CeAuSb2 there are two magnetic phases. The low-field A phase is a single-component spin-density wave (SDW), with q = (η, ±η, 1/2), and the high-field B phase consists of microscopically coexisting (η, η, 1/2) and (η, −η, 1/2) spin-density waves. Pressure along a 100 lattice direction is a transverse field to both of these phases, and so initially has little effect, however eventually induces new low-and high-field phases in which the principal axes of the SDW components appear to have rotated to the 100 directions. Under this strong 100 compression, the field evolution of the resistivity is much smoother than at zero strain: In zero strain, there is a strong first-order transition, while under strong 100 it becomes much broader. We hypothesize that this is a consequence of the uniaxial stress lifting the degeneracy between the (100) and (010) directions.

Nematic State in CeAuSb2

“…In order to understand the origin of T Ã and the other phases denoted by (M', M", and M*) under pressure, the underlying magnetic structures will have to be determined by neutron or nuclear magnetic resonance measurements under applied pressure and field. Interestingly, experiments on CeAuSb 2 under uniaxial strain along the ½100 direction also suggest additional magnetic phases [30,31]. In particular, the H − T phase diagram under applied compression along the ½100 direction resembles our phase diagram in Fig.…”

“…In particular, the H − T phase diagram under applied compression along the ½100 direction resembles our phase diagram in Fig. 5(d), but it is not precisely the same [31]. Different effects caused by uniaxial and hydrostatic applied pressure have also been observed in the Fe-based superconductors [51].…”

“…As a result, one expects that the lattice will also break tetragonal C 4 symmetry in the presence of magnetoelastic coupling. In fact, in-plane uniaxial pressure experiments show that the magnetic transitions of CeAuSb 2 are sensitive to strain [30,31]. The situation thus seems analogous to iron-based high-T c superconductors such as NaFeAs ("111") and LaFeAsO ("1111"), which share the same P4=nmm space group as CeAuSb 2 [32,33].…”

Electronic and magnetic properties of stoichiometric CeAuBi2

“…This region decreases with increasing temperature. [25][26][27][28], CeAgBi 2 [29] and CeSbTe [10]. Future field dependent neutron diffraction experiments will be valuable to explore this possibility.…”

Microscopic Nature of Magnetic Ground State in CeAuSb2

“…Among Ce‐based heavy electron systems, stoichiometric CeAuSb 2 has emerged as the archetypal material to understand the origin of quantum critical phenomenon . Electrical resistivity measurements on the single‐crystal specimen of CeAuSb 2 have revealed an anomalous power–law exponent of resistivity, ∝ ρ ε with ε ≈ 0.5, characterizing it as a non‐Fermi liquid metal at low temperature .…”