Quantum critical fluctuations in layered YFe2Al10.

Wu, L S; Kim, M S; Park, K; Tsvelik, A M; Aronson, M C · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2014

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The absence of thermal fluctuations at T = 0 makes it possible to observe the inherently quantum mechanical nature of systems where the competition among correlations leads to different types of collective ground states. Our high precision measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and electrical resistivity in the layered compound YFe2Al10 demonstrate robust field-temperature scaling, evidence that this system is naturally poised without tuning on the verge of ferromagnetic order that occurs exactly at T = 0, where magnetic fields drive the system away from this quantum critical point and restore normal metallic behavior.