Abstract
In contrast to classical phase transitions driven by temperature,a quantum critical point (QCP) defines a transition at zero temperature that is driven by non-thermal parameters 1-3 . In the known quantum critical d-electron systems, tuning the electronic bandwidth by means of changing the applied pressure or unit-cell dimensions, or tuning the d-state population, is used to drive the criticality 4-6 . Here we describe how a novel chemical parameter, the breaking of bonds in Geg-Ge dimers that occurs within the intermetallic framework in SrCo 2 (Ge 1-x P x ) 2 , results in the appearance of a ferromagnetic (FM) QCP. Although both SrCo 2 P 2 and SrCo 2 Ge 2 are paramagnetic, weak itinerant ferromagnetism unexpectedly develops during the course of the dimer breaking, and a QCP is observed at the onset of the FM phase. The use of chemical bond breaking as a tuning parameter to induce QCP opens an avenue for designing and studying novel magnetic materials.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 207-210 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Nature Physics |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2011 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Physics and Astronomy(all)