Specific-heat study of the triangular-lattice antiferromagnet RbCuCl3

F. Prez-Willard; A. Faißt; J. Wosnitza; U. Schotte; H. Tanaka

doi:10.1007/s100510051122

EPJ

Specific-heat study of the triangular-lattice antiferromagnet RbCuCl₃

F. Prez-Willard¹, A. Faißt¹, J. Wosnitza¹, H. v. Löhneysen¹, U. Schotte² and H. Tanaka³

¹ Physikalisches Institut, Universität Karlsruhe, Engesserstrasse 7, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
² Hahn-Meitner-Institut, 14109 Berlin, Germany
³ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152, Japan

Received: 18 October 1999
Published online: 15 May 2000

Abstract

We report on the magnetic phase diagram of the distorted triangular-lattice antiferromagnet RbCuCl₃ for a magnetic field applied parallel to the basal plane (B⊥c). High-resolution measurements of the specific heat and of the magnetocaloric effect have been performed in magnetic fields up to 14 T. The high-field specific-heat data reveal the existence of an intermediate phase between the paramagnetic and the frustrated antiferromagnetic phase.

PACS: 75.40.Cx – Static properties (order parameter, static susceptibility, heat capacities, critical exponents, etc.) / 75.50.Ee – Antiferromagnetics / 64.60.Fr – Equilibrium properties near critical points, critical exponents