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Ba4Ru3O10, the quasi-one-dimensional spin-1 (S = 1) compound, has rather intricate magnetic properties. The compound consists of structural Ru trimers, which together form the zig-zag chains where the Ru has two inequivalent crystallographic sites. While at high temperature both the inequivalent Ru ions stay in the 4+ state with effective S = 1 spin state, upon lowering the temperature, the magnetic moment of the central Ru atom is completely quenched accompanied by a change in the octahedral environment. This effectively gives rise to a bond-alternating chain and provides an opportunity to study the excitation of such a spin network in a real material. We have used microscopic tools such as neutron scattering and muon spin relaxation along with the density functional theory based calculations to address the spin state of the two inequivalent Ru ions in this material. From our neutron powder diffraction, on lowering of temperature, we find a large tetragonal distortion of the central RuO6 octahedra of the trimer. The splitting of the t2g level of the central Ru due to this distortion is found to be significant leading to the quenching of the moment underscoring the Hund’s exchange. The nonmagnetic central Ru promotes a strong antiferromagnetic superexchange between the other two Ru ions in the trimer, which gives rise to a dimeric state. The presence of spin dimers is reflected by the manifestation of a gap in the spin excitation spectra. The spin-dimer formation in Ba4Ru3O10 is at par with the effective model proposed by Affleck and Haldane for the S = 1 bond alternating chains in the light of valence bond solid formalism. Eventually, at a lower temperature, a long-range ordered antiferromagnetic state emerges from the gapped dimer state due to the significant interdimer interactions.

CeRh$_6$Ge$_4$ is an unusual example of a stoichiometric heavy fermion ferromagnet, which can be cleanly tuned by hydrostatic pressure to a quantum critical point. In order to understand the origin of this anomalous behavior, we have characterized the magnetic ordering and crystalline electric field (CEF) scheme of this system. While magnetic Bragg peaks are not resolved in neutron powder diffraction, coherent oscillations are observed in zero-field $\mu$SR below $T_{\rm C}$, which are consistent with in-plane ferromagnetic ordering consisting of reduced Ce moments. From analyzing the magnetic susceptibility and inelastic neutron scattering, we propose a CEF-level scheme which accounts for the easy-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy, where the low lying first excited CEF exhibits significantly stronger hybridization than the ground state. These results suggest that the orbital anisotropy of the ground state and low lying excited state doublets are important for realizing anisotropic electronic coupling between the $f$- and conduction electrons, which gives rise to the highly anisotropic hybridization observed in photoemission experiments., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures

The search of quantum spin liquid (QSL), an exotic magnetic state with strongly-fluctuating and highly-entangled spins down to zero temperature, is a main theme in current condensed matter physics. However, there is no smoking-gun evidence for deconfined spinons in any QSL candidate so far. The disorders and competing exchange interactions may prevent the formation of an ideal QSL state on frustrated spin lattices. Here we report comprehensive and systematic measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, ultra-low temperature specific heat, muon spin relaxation (muSR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and thermal conductivity for NaYbSe2 single crystals, in which Yb3+ ions with effective spin-1/2 form a perfect triangular lattice. All these complementary techniques find no evidence of long-range magnetic order down to their respective base temperatures. Instead, specific heat, muSR and NMR measurements suggest the coexistence of quasi-static and dynamic spins in NaYbSe2. The scattering from these quasi-static spins may cause the absence of magnetic thermal conductivity. Thus, we propose a scenario of fluctuating ferrimagnetic droplets immersed in a sea of QSL. This may be quite common on the way pursuing an ideal QSL, and provides a brand-new platform to study how a QSL state survives impurities and coexists with other magnetically ordered states.

Superconductivity in materials whose crystal structure lacks inversion symmetry is a prime candidate for unconventional superconductivity. A new noncentrosymmetric compound Zr$_{3}$Ir crystallizes in a tetragonal $ \alpha $-V$_{3} $S structure. The magnetization, specific heat and muon spin rotation confirm s-wave superconductivity, having a transition temperature T$_{c}$ = 2.3 K. Muon spin relaxation confirms the preservation of time reversal symmetry in the superconducting ground state., Comment: 8 Pages, 8 figures

The rare-earth based ternary intermetallic compounds $R_2TX_3$ ($R$ = rare-earth, $T$ = transition-metal, $X$ = Si, Ge, Ga, In) have attracted considerable interest due to a wide range of interesting low temperature properties. Here we investigate the magnetic state of Nd$_{2}$PdSi$_{3}$ using neutron diffraction, muon spin relaxation ($\mu$SR) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS). This compound appears anomalous among the $R_{2}$PdSi$_{3}$ series, since it was proposed to order ferromagnetically, whereas others in this series are antiferromagnets. Although some members of the $R_2TX_3$ series have been reported to form ordered superstructures, our data are well described by Nd$_{2}$PdSi$_{3}$ adopting the AlB$_2$-type structure with a single Nd site, and we do not find evidence for superlattice peaks in neutron diffraction. Our results confirm the onset of long range magnetic order below $T_0=17$~K, where the whole sample enters the ordered state. Neutron diffraction measurements establish the presence of a ferromagnetic component in this compound, as well as an antiferromagnetic one which has a propagation vector $\mathbf{k_2}=(1/2,1/2,1/4-\delta)$ with a temperature dependent $\delta\approx0.02-0.04$, and moments orientated exclusively along the $c$-axis. $\mu$SR measurements suggest that these components coexist on a microscopic level, and therefore the magnetic structure of Nd$_{2}$PdSi$_{3}$ is predominantly ferromagnetic, with a sinusoidally modulated antiferromagnetic contribution which reaches a maximum amplitude at 11~K, and becomes smaller upon further decreasing the temperature. INS results show the presence of crystalline-electric field (CEF) excitations above $T_0$, and from our analysis we propose a CEF level scheme., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures

Superconductivity in the pseudo-binary pnictides Ru0.55Rh0.45P and Ru0.75Rh0.25As is probed by muon spin relaxation and rotation (muSR) measurements in conjuction with magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements. Powder x-ray diffraction confirmed the MnP-type orthorhombic structure (space group Pnma) and showed a nearly single phase nature with small impurity phase(s) of about 5% for both the samples. The occurence of bulk superconductivity is confirmed with Tc = 3.7 K for Ru0.55Rh0.45P and T = 1.6 K for Ru0.75Rh0.25As. The superconducting state electronic heat capacity data reveal weak-coupling single-band isotropic s-wave gap BCS superconductivity. Various normal and superconducting state parameters are determined which reveal a weak-coupling electron-phonon driven type-II dirty-limit superconductivity for both the compounds. The upper critical field shows a linear temperature dependence down to the lowest measured temperatures which is quite unusual for a single-band superconductor. The muSR data confirm the conventional type-II behavior, and show evidence for a single-band s-wave singlet pairing superconductivity with a preserved time reversal symmetry for both the compounds., Comment: 11 pages, 15 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in PRB

Nd2Hf2O7, belonging to the family of geometrically frustrated cubic rare earth pyrochlore oxides, was recently identified to order antiferromagnetically below T_N = 0.55 K with an all-in/all-out arrangement of Nd3+ moments, however with a much reduced ordered state moment. Herein we investigate the spin dynamics and crystal field states of Nd2Hf2O7 using muon spin relaxation (muSR) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements. Our muSR study confirms the long range magnetic ordering and shows evidence for coexisting persistent dynamic spin fluctuations deep inside the ordered state down to 42 mK. The INS data show the crytal electric field (CEF) excitations due to the transitions both within the ground state multiplet and to the first excited state multiplet. The INS data are analyzed by a model based on CEF and crystal field states are determined. Strong Ising-type anisotropy is inferred from the ground state wavefunction. The CEF parameters indicate the CEF-split Kramers doublet ground state of Nd3+ to be consistent with the dipolar-octupolar character., 10 pages, 9 figures, 1 Table

The insulating pyrochlore compound Nd2Sn2O7 has been shown to undergo a second order magnetic phase transition at Tc ~ 0.91 K to a noncoplanar all-in--all-out magnetic structure of the Nd3+ magnetic moments. An anomalously slow paramagnetic spin dynamics has been evidenced from neutron backscattering and muon spin relaxation (muSR). In the case of muSR this has been revealed through the strong effect of a 50 mT longitudinal field on the spin-lattice relaxation rate. Here, motivated by a recent successful work performed for Yb2Ti2O7 and Yb2Sn2O7, analyzing the shape of the muSR longitudinal polarization function, we substantiate the existence of extremely slow paramagnetic spin dynamics in the microsecond time range for Nd2Sn2O7. Between 1.7 and 7 K, this time scale is temperature independent. This suggests a double spin-flip tunneling relaxation mechanism to be at play, probably involving spin substructures such as tetrahedra. Unexpectedly, the standard deviation of the field distribution at the muon site increases as the system is cooled. This exotic spin dynamics is in sharp contrast with the dynamics above 100 K which is driven by the Orbach relaxation mechanism involving single Nd3+ magnetic moments., 7 pages, 6 figures

Evidence for intra-unit-cell (IUC) magnetic order in the pseudogap region of high-$T_c$ cuprates below a temperature $T^\ast$ is found in several studies, but NMR and $\mu$SR experiments do not observe the expected static local magnetic fields. It has been noted, however, that such fields could be averaged by fluctuations. Our measurements of muon spin relaxation rates in single crystals of YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$ reveal magnetic fluctuations of the expected order of magnitude that exhibit critical slowing down at $T^\ast$. These results are strong evidence for fluctuating IUC magnetic order in the pseudogap phase., Comment: 8 pages 7 figures including supplemental material; added discussion of statistics and other experiments

This work shows an unconventional route for spin-driven ferroelectricity originating from a metastable magnetic field-induced canting of chromium sublattice in the presence of gadolinium moments in GdCrTiO5 at low temperatures. Compared to the isostructural neodymium compound, significant differences of magnetism and magnetoelectric effects are seen. We present the results of thorough investigations of temperature and magnetic field dependent magnetization as well as ac and dc magnetic susceptibility. These bulk measurements are complemented by local-probe spectroscopy utilizing electron-spin resonance and muon-spin rotation/relaxation for probing the chromium moments. Ferroelectric order is inferred from pyro- and magnetocurrent measurements. GdCrTiO5 shows a pyrocurrent signal around 10 K, only if the system is cooled in an applied magnetic field exceeding 10 kOe. A distinct spin-driven ferroelectric order is revealed in this state for temperatures below 10 K, which can be switched by changing magnetic-field direction and the polarity of the electric field. But, the magnetic measurements reveal no clear signature of long-range magnetic ordering. The presence of such meta-magnetoelectric-type behaviour in the absence of any meta-magnetic behavior is rare in the literature. Our microscopic spectroscopy results indicate significant changes of the magnetic properties around 10 K. Probably there is an exchange frustration between Gd and Cr moments, which prevents long-range magnetic ordering at further high temperature. Below 10 K, weak magnetic ordering occurs by minimizing frustration due to lattice distortion, which helps in magnetodielectric coupling. However, the non-polar distortion attains appreciable values after application of magnetic fields above 10 kOe to break the spatial inversion symmetry, which creates ferroelectricity., accepted in PRB

The newly discovered Ising-type ferromagnet CeRu$_2$Al$_2$B exhibits an additional phase transition at $T_\textrm{N}$ = 14.2 K before entering the ferromagnetic ground state at $T_\textrm{C}$ = 12.8 K. We clarify the nature of this transition through high resolution neutron diffraction measurements. The data reveal the presence of a longitudinal incommensurate spin-density wave (SDW) in the temperature range of $T_\textrm{C}, Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures

We present a detailed investigation of the hole (3\% Re) doping effect on the polycrystalline CeRu$_{2}$Al$_{10}$ sample by magnetization, heat capacity, resistivity, muon spin rotation ($\mu$SR), and neutron scattering (both elastic and inelastic) measurements. CeRu$_2$Al$_{10}$ is an exceptional cerium compound with an unusually high Neel temperature of 27 K. Here we study the stability of the unusual magnetic order by means of controlled doping, and we uncover further surprising attributes of this phase transition. The heat capacity, resistivity and $\mu$SR measurements reveal an onset of magnetic ordering below 23 K, while a broad peak at 31 K (i.e. above $T_N$), has been observed in the temperature dependent susceptibility, indicating an opening of a spin gap above $T_N$. Our important finding, from the neutron diffraction, is that the compound orders antiferromagnetically with a propagation vector $\bf k$ = (1 0 0) and the ordered state moment is 0.20(1)$\mu_B$ along the $b-$axis. This is in sharp contrast to the undoped compound, which shows AFM ordering at 27 K with the ordered moment of 0.39(3)$\mu_B$ along the $c-$axis. Similar to CeRu$_2$Al$_{10}$ our inelastic neutron scattering study on the Re doped shows a sharp spin gap-type excitation near 8 meV at 5 K, but with slightly reduced intensity compared to the undoped compound. Further the excitation broadens and shifts to lower energy ($\le$ 4 meV) near 35 K. These results suggest that the low temperature magnetic properties of the hole doped sample is governed by the competition between the anisotropic hybridization effect and crystal field anisotropy as observed in hole-doped CeOs$_2$Al$_{10}$., Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev. B

The results of heat capacity C_p(T, H) and electrical resistivity \rho(T,H) measurements down to 0.35 K as well as muon spin relaxation and rotation (\muSR) measurements on a noncentrosymmetric superconductor LaIrSi3 are presented. Powder neutron diffraction confirmed the reported noncentrosymmetric body-centered tetragonal BaNiSn3-type structure (space group I4\,mm) of LaIrSi3. The bulk superconductivity is observed below T_c = 0.72(1) K. The intrinsic \Delta C_e/\gamma_n T_c = 1.09(3) is significantly smaller than the BCS value of 1.43, and this reduction is accounted by the \alpha-model of BCS superconductivity. The analysis of the superconducting state C_e(T) data by the single-band \alpha-model indicates a moderately anisotropic order parameter with the s-wave gap \Delta(0)/k_B T_c = 1.54(2) which is lower than the BCS value of 1.764. Our estimates of various normal and superconducting state parameters indicate a weakly coupled electron-phonon driven type-I s-wave superconductivity in LaIrSi3. The \muSR results also confirm the conventional type-I superconductivity in LaIrSi3 with a preserved time reversal symmetry and hence a singlet pairing superconducting ground state., Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables

The magnetic state of the noncentrosymmetric antiferromagnet CeNiC$_2$ has been studied by magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, muon spin relaxation ($\mu$SR) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements. CeNiC$_2$ exhibits three magnetic phase transitions at $T_{N_1}$ = 20 K, $T_{N_2}$ = 10 K and $T_{N_3}$ = 2.5 K. The presence of long range magnetic order below 20 K is confirmed by the observation of oscillations in the $\mu$SR spectra between 10 and 20 K and a sharp increase in the muon depolarization rate. INS studies reveal two well-defined crystal electric field (CEF) excitations around 8 and 30 meV. INS data have been analyzed using a CEF model and the wave functions were evaluated. We also calculated the direction and magnitude of the ground state moment using CEF wave functions and compare the results with that proposed from the neutron diffraction. Our CEF model correctly predicts that the moments order along the $b-$axis (or $y$-axis) and the observed magnetic moment is 0.687(5) $\mu_B$, which is higher than the moment observed from the neutron diffraction (0.25 $\mu_B$/Ce). We attribute the observed reduced moment due to the Kondo screening effect., Comment: 10 pages, 13 figures

We have investigated the superconducting state of the non-centrosymmetric compound Re6Zr using magnetization, heat capacity, and muon-spin relaxation/rotation (muSR) measurements. Re6Zr has a superconducting transition temperature, Tc = 6.75 K. Transverse-field muSR experiments, used to probe the superfluid density, suggest an s-wave character for the superconducting gap. However, zero and longitudinal-field muSR data reveal the presence of spontaneous static magnetic fields below Tc indicating that time-reversal symmetry is broken in the superconducting state and an unconventional pairing mechanism. An analysis of the pairing symmetries identifies the ground states compatible with time-reversal symmetry breaking., 6 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Physical Review Letters

The magnetic state of the noncentrosymmetric antiferromagnet CeNiC$_2$ has been studied by magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, muon spin relaxation ($��$SR) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements. CeNiC$_2$ exhibits three magnetic phase transitions at $T_{N_1}$ = 20 K, $T_{N_2}$ = 10 K and $T_{N_3}$ = 2.5 K. The presence of long range magnetic order below 20 K is confirmed by the observation of oscillations in the $��$SR spectra between 10 and 20 K and a sharp increase in the muon depolarization rate. INS studies reveal two well-defined crystal electric field (CEF) excitations around 8 and 30 meV. INS data have been analyzed using a CEF model and the wave functions were evaluated. We also calculated the direction and magnitude of the ground state moment using CEF wave functions and compare the results with that proposed from the neutron diffraction. Our CEF model correctly predicts that the moments order along the $b-$axis (or $y$-axis) and the observed magnetic moment is 0.687(5) $��_B$, which is higher than the moment observed from the neutron diffraction (0.25 $��_B$/Ce). We attribute the observed reduced moment due to the Kondo screening effect., 10 pages, 13 figures

The effects of electron (Ir) and hole (Re) doping on the hybridization gap and antiferromagnetic order have been studied by magnetization, muon spin relaxation ($\mu^+$SR), and inelastic neutron scattering on the polycrystalline samples of Ce(Os$_{1-x}$Ir$_x$)$_2$Al$_{10}$ ($x$ = 0.08 and 0.15) and CeOs$_{1.94}$Re$_{0.06}$Al$_{10}$. $\mu^+$SR spectra clearly reveals magnetic ordering below 20 and 10 K for $x$ = 0.08 and 0.15 samples respectively with a very weak signature of oscillations of the muon initial asymmetry at very short time scale. Our important findings are that small amount of electron doping (i) completely suppress the inelastic magnetic excitations near 11 meV down to 2K, which were observed in the undoped compound, and the response transforms into a broad quasielastic response and (ii) the internal field at the corresponding muon site is remarkably enhanced by about ten times compared with the parent compound. On the other hand with small amount of hole (3\% Re) doping the intensity of the inelastic magnetic excitations near 11 meV is reduced significantly. The main origin of the observed doping effect is an extra 5$d$ electrons being carried by Ir and a hole carried by Re compared with that the Os atom. The obtained results demonstrate a great sensitivity of the carrier doping and provides additional ways to study their anomalous magnetic properties., Comment: 9 pages, 13 figures

The results of heat capacity C_p(T, H) and electrical resistivity ��(T,H) measurements down to 0.35 K as well as muon spin relaxation and rotation (\muSR) measurements on a noncentrosymmetric superconductor LaIrSi3 are presented. Powder neutron diffraction confirmed the reported noncentrosymmetric body-centered tetragonal BaNiSn3-type structure (space group I4\,mm) of LaIrSi3. The bulk superconductivity is observed below T_c = 0.72(1) K. The intrinsic ��C_e/��_n T_c = 1.09(3) is significantly smaller than the BCS value of 1.43, and this reduction is accounted by the ��-model of BCS superconductivity. The analysis of the superconducting state C_e(T) data by the single-band ��-model indicates a moderately anisotropic order parameter with the s-wave gap ��(0)/k_B T_c = 1.54(2) which is lower than the BCS value of 1.764. Our estimates of various normal and superconducting state parameters indicate a weakly coupled electron-phonon driven type-I s-wave superconductivity in LaIrSi3. The \muSR results also confirm the conventional type-I superconductivity in LaIrSi3 with a preserved time reversal symmetry and hence a singlet pairing superconducting ground state., 11 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables

Recently the Ce-based caged-type compounds having general formula CeT2Al10 (T=Fe, Ru and Os) have generated considerable interest due to the Kondo semiconducting paramagnetic ground state (down to 40 mK) observed in CeFe2Al10 and anomalously high magnetic ordering temperature with a spin gap formation at low temperatures in Kondo semimetals CeRu2Al10 and CeOs2Al10. The formation of long-range magnetic ordering out of the Kondo semiconducting/semimetallic state itself is extraordinary and these are the first examples of this enigmatic coexistence of electronic ground states. These compounds also exhibit strong anisotropy in the magnetic and transport properties, which has been explained on the basis of single ion crystal electric field (CEF) anisotropy in the presence of strongly anisotropic hybridization between localised 4f-electron and conduction electrons. Further they also exhibit a remarkable modification of magnetic and transport properties with doping on Ce, or T or Al sites. In this review we briefly discuss the bulk properties of these compounds, giving a detailed discussion on our muon-spin-relaxation (muSR) investigations and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) results., 36 pages, 21 figures, 2 tables. Physica Scripta (2013)

The magnetic states of the non-centrosymmetric, pressure induced superconductor CeCoGe3 have been studied with magnetic susceptibility, muon spin relaxation(muSR), single crystal neutron diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering (INS). CeCoGe3 exhibits three magnetic phase transitions at T_N1 = 21 K, T_N2 = 12 K and T_N3 = 8 K. The presence of long range magnetic order below T_N1 is revealed by the observation of oscillations of the asymmetry in the muSR spectra between 13 K and 20 K and a sharp increase in the muon depolarization rate. Single crystal neutron diffraction measurements reveal magnetic Bragg peaks consistent with propagation vectors of k = 2/3 between T_N1 and T_N2, k = 5/8between T_N2 and T_N3 and k = 1/2 below T_N3. An increase in intensity of the (1 1 0) reflection between T_N1 and T_N3 also indicates a ferromagnetic component in these phases. These measurements are consistent with an equal moment, two-up, two-down magnetic structure below T_N3, with a magnetic moment of 0.405(5) mu_B/Ce. Above T_N2, the results are consistent with an equal moment, two-up, one-down structure with a moment of 0.360(6) mu_B/Ce. INS studies reveal two crystal-field (CEF) excitations at 19 and 27 meV. From an analysis with a CEF model, the wave-functions of the J = 5/2 multiplet are evaluated along with a prediction for the magnitude and direction of the ground state magnetic moment. Our model correctly predicts that the moments order along the c axis but the observed magnetic moment of 0.405(5) mu_B is reduced compared to the predicted moment of 1.01 mu_B. This is ascribed to hybridization between the localized Ce^3+ f-electrons and the conduction band. This suggests that CeCoGe3 has a degree of hybridization between that of CeRhGe3 and the non-centrosymmetric superconductor CeRhSi3., 11 pages, 15 figures

The lightly hole-doped system CeOs1.94Re0.06Al10 has been studied by muon spin relaxation and neutron diffraction measurements. A long-range antiferromagnetic ordering of the Ce-sublattice with substantially reduced value of the magnetic moment 0.18(1) \mu_B has been found below T_N = 21 K. Similar to the undoped parent compound, the magnetic ground state of CeOs1.94Re0.06Al10 preserves the anomalous direction of the ordered moments along the c-axis. The obtained result reveals the crucial difference between electron- and hole-doping effects on the magnetic ordering in CeOs2Al10. The former suppresses the anisotropic c-f hybridization and promotes localized Ce moments. On the contrary, the latter increases the hybridization and shifts the system towards delocalized non-magnetic state.

Magnetic susceptibility, NMR, muSR, and inelastic neutron scattering measurements show that kapellasite, Cu3Zn(OH)6Cl2, a geometrically frustrated spin-1/2 kagome antiferromagnet polymorphous with the herbertsmithite mineral, is a gapless spin liquid with frustrated interactions showing unusual dynamic short-range correlations of non-coplanar cuboc2 type which persist down to 20 mK. The Hamiltonian is determined from a fit of a high-temperature series expansion to thermodynamical data. The experimental data are compared to theoretical calculations using the Schwinger-boson approach., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures. Published in PRL, link to supplemental materials added

The magnetic and quadrupolar ordered states of polycrystalline YbRu2Ge2 have been investigated using zero-field muon spin relaxation ({\mu}SR) and neutron diffraction measurements. Specific heat measurements show three successive phase transitions, with decreasing temperature from a paramagnetic to a quadrupolar state at T0 ~ 10 K, from the quadrupolar to a magnetic state at T1 ~ 6.5 K and a possible change in the magnetic ground state at T2 ~ 5.5 K. Clear evidence for the magnetic transition below 7 K (spectrum at 8 K reveals paramagnetic state) and a likely change in the magnetic structure near 5.8 K is observed in the zero-field {\mu}SR measurements. The {\mu}SR data, however, do not reveal any signature of magnetic order in the temperature range 8 - 45 K. This result is further supported by neutron diffraction measurements, where clear magnetic Bragg peaks have been observed below 8 K, but not above it. Below 8 K, the magnetic Bragg peaks can be characterized by an incommensurate antiferromagnetic ordering with the propagation vector q = [0.352, 0, 0] and the magnetic moment 2.9(3) {\mu}B of Yb along the b-axis. These results are discussed in terms of quadrupolar ordered and magnetically ordered states., Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, PRB-accepted-2011

We report the study of high quality samples of the frustrated S = 1/2 kagome antiferromagnet vesignieite, Cu3Ba(VO5H)2. Neutron powder diffraction measurements evidence the high quality of the kagome lattice and show no sign of a transition to long-range order. A kink in the susceptibility below T = 9 K is matched to a reduction in paramagnetic-like correlations in the diffraction data and a slowing of the spin dynamics observed by MuSR. Our results point to an exotic quantum state below 9 K with coexistance of both dynamical and small frozen moments \sim 0.1 \muB. We propose that Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction is large enough in this system to stabilize this novel quantum ground state., Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, To be published in Physical Review B Rapid Commun

We have carried out neutron diffraction, muon spin relaxation (muSR) and inelastic neutron scattering investigations on a polycrystalline sample of CeOs2Al10 to investigate the nature of the phase transition observed near 29 K in the resistivity and heat capacity. Our muSR data clearly reveal coherent frequency oscillations below 28 K, indicating the presence of an internal field at the muon site, which confirms the long-range magnetic ordering of the Ce-moment below 28 K. Upon cooling the sample below 15 K, unusual behaviour of the temperature dependent muSR frequencies may indicate either a change of the muon site, consistent with the observation of superstructure reflections in electron diffraction or a change of the ordered magnetic structure. Neutron diffraction data do not reveal any clear sign of either magnetic Bragg peaks or superlattice reflections. Furthermore, inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements clearly reveal the presence of a sharp inelastic excitation near 11 meV between 5 K and 26 K, due to opening of a gap in the spin excitation spectrum, which transforms into a broad response at and above 30 K. The magnitude of the spin-gap (11 meV) as derived from the INS peak position agrees very well with the gap value as estimated from the bulk properties., 37 pages

The low temperature state of CeRu2Al10 has been studied by neutron powder diffraction and muon spin relaxation (muSR). By combining both techniques, we prove that the transition occurring below T*~27K, which has been the subject of considerable debate, is unambiguously magnetic due to the ordering of the Ce sublattice. The magnetic structure with propagation vector k=(1,0,0) involves collinear antiferromagnetic alignment of the Ce moments along the c-axis of the Cmcm space group with a reduced moment of 0.34(2)mu_B. No structural changes within the resolution limit have been detected below the transition temperature. However, the temperature dependence of the magnetic Bragg peaks and the muon precession frequency show an anomaly around T2~12 K indicating a possible second transition.

We have used neutron scattering and muon spin relaxation (muSR) to investigate the structural and magnetic properties of the beta-phase of elemental manganese doped with dilute amounts of indium. beta-Mn is an example of a topologically frustrated antiferromagnetically correlated metal - but which remains paramagnetic at all temperatures. The addition of In to beta-Mn results in a vast volume expansion of the lattice, and would therefore be expected to have a major effect on the stability and localization of the Mn moment - as observed in, for example, Ru and Al doped beta-Mn alloys. We find that In doping in beta-Mn results in a short-range ordered spin-glass like ground state, similar to that of Al-doped beta-Mn but with residual low frequency spin fluctuations. This is in contrast to Ru doping which results in the stabilization of a long-range ordered Mn moment

Transverse-field muon-spin-rotation measurements have been carried out for polycrystalline ThPt4Ge12. The magnetic penetration depth $\lambda$ and the superconducting coherence length $\xi$ in the vortex state of this compound were found to be 112(5) nm and 32(2) nm, respectively. We have estimated the effective mass of the quasiparticles $m^* \approx 4.6\times m_e$, the superfluid carrier density $n_s \approx 1.02 \times 10^{28}$ carriers/m$^{3}$, and the zero-temperature superconducting gap 0.67 meV, corresponding to the ratio: 2$\Delta(0)/k_BT_c$ = 3.76. We found markable difference between the temperature dependence of the vortex state muon-spin relaxation rate ZFC- and FC-$\sigma_s(T)$ below the irreversibility temperature $T_{ir} \sim $ 2.5 K. Linear field dependence of $\lambda(H)$, small ratio $T_{ir}/T_c$, and power law behavior of the temperature dependencies of $\lambda(T)$ seem to be consistent with anisotropic superconducting pairing in the compound studied. The analysis of correlation between the superconducting transition temperature and the effective Fermi temperature within the Uemura classification scheme reveals that ThPt4Ge belongs to the same class of exotic superconductors.

We report a muSR study of LiCrO2, which has a magnetic lattice made up of a stacking of triangular Heisenberg antiferromagnetic (Cr3+, S = 3/2) layers. A static magnetically ordered state is observed below the transition temperature T_N = 62 K, while the expected peak of the relaxation rate is slightly shifted downward by a few kelvins below T_N. We draw a comparison with the isostructural compound NaCrO2, where an exotic broad fluctuating regime has been observed [A. Olariu, P. Mendels, F. Bert, B. G. Ueland, P. Schiffer, R. F. Berger, and R. J. Cava, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 167203 (2006)] and was suggested to originate from topological excitations of the triangular lattice. Replacing Na by Li strongly narrows the exotic fluctuating regime formerly observed in NaCrO2, which we attribute to a more pronounced inter-plane coupling in LiCrO2., 6 pages, 5 figures

Zero- and longitudinal-field muon spin relaxation (MuSR) experiments have been carried out in the alloy series Pr(Os1-xRux)4Sb12 and Pr1-yLayOs4Sb12 to elucidate the anomalous dynamic muon spin relaxation observed in these materials. The damping rate associated with this relaxation varies with temperature, applied magnetic field, and dopant concentrations x and y in a manner consistent with the ``hyperfine enhancement'' of 141Pr nuclear spins first discussed by Bleaney in 1973. This mechanism arises from Van Vleck-like admixture of magnetic Pr3+ crystalline-electric-field-split excited states into the nonmagnetic singlet ground state by the nuclear hyperfine coupling, thereby increasing the strengths of spin-spin interactions between 141Pr and muon spins and within the 141Pr spin system. We find qualitative agreement with this scenario, and conclude that electronic spin fluctuations are not directly involved in the dynamic muon spin relaxation., 10 pages, 6 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. B

MuSR experiments have been performed on powder sample of the "ordered spin ice" Tb$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$ pyrochlore compound. At base temperature (T=35mK) the muon relaxation is found to be of dynamical nature which demonstrates that strong fluctuations persist below the ferromagnetic transition (T_C=0.87K). Hints of long range order appear as oscillations of the muon polarization when an external field is applied and also as a hysteretic behavior below T_C. We propose a dynamical and strongly correlated scenario where dynamics results from fluctuation of large spin clusters with the "ordered spin ice" structure., Submitted to PRL

Muon spin relaxation (μSR) measurements have been made on Cd0.85Mn0.15Te:In and Cd0.86Mn0.14Te:Al. The spin glass transition region has been studied using μSR and low-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. Persistent photoconductivity (PPC) has been shown to exist only in the In-doped sample, the effect of PPC on the spin glass transition temperature using bulk magnetic susceptibility has also been studied, indicating the presence of bound magnetic polarons. μSR on the Al-doped sample clearly shows the spin glass transition, however, the presence of the DX center, which causes PPC when doping with In donors, perturbs the muon response. Particular attention is paid to the possibility of the DX center trapping muonium, preventing the detection of the spin glass transition. PPC does not induce a change in the muon response, however, we find continuous illumination of the sample allows the observation of the spin glass transition. We suggest that these results can be explained by assuming the presence of multiple DX centers. The muon acting as a local magnetic probe of the DX center also suggests the ground state is diamagnetic.

We present $\mu$SR experiments in the $S=3/2$ kagome bilayer compound Ba$_{2}$Sn$_{2}$ZnGa$_{10-7p}$Cr$_{7p}$O$_{22}$ (BSZCGO$(p)$) and compare it to the isostructural SrCr$_{9p}$Ga$_{12-9p}$O$_{19}$ (SCGO$(p)$), including for the latter new results for $p\geq0.89$. Quantum-dynamical low energy magnetic excitations are evidenced in this novel compound. We study the evolution of the muon relaxation rate with $p$, $T$ and field. A phenomenological model for the muon relaxation based on sporadic dynamics due to spin excitations in a singlet sea proposed by Uemura \emph{et al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{73}, 3306 (1994)]. is extended to all fields and $T$-range. Its connexion to the RVB picture is discussed, and we argue that such coherent states might mediate the interactions between "impurities" which induce the spin glass freezing., Comment: 4 figures, only minor changes as compared to previous version

The magnetic ground state of the antiferromagnet Kondo lattice compound Ce8Pd24Ga has been investigated using neutron powder diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering and zero-field muon spin relaxation measurements. The neutron diffraction analysis, below TN (3.6(0.2)K), reveals a commensurate type-C antiferromagnetic structure with the ordered state magnetic moment of \~0.36 mB/Ce-atom along the cubic direction. The analysis of the inelastic neutron scattering (INS) data based on the crystal field (CF) model reveals a doublet ground state with a ground state moment of 1.29 mB/Ce-atom. The observed magnetic moment from neutron diffraction, which is small compared to the expected value from CF-analysis, is attributed to screening of the local Ce moment by the Kondo effect. This is supported by the observed Kondo-type resistivity and a small change in the entropy of Ce8Pd24Ga at TN. The zero-field muon spin relaxation rate exhibits a sharp increase below TN indicating ordering of Ce moments, in agreement with the neutron diffraction data. The present studies reveal that the physical properties of Ce8Pd24Ga are governed by the onsite Kondo compensation, the moment stabilizing intersite RKKY interaction and the crystal field effect., 11 pages and 7Figs, Phys. Rev. B (accepted)