Magnetic blue phase in the chiral itinerant magnet MnSi

Chiral nematic liquid crystals sometimes form blue phases characterized by spirals twisting in different directions. By combining model calculations with neutron-scattering experiments, we show that the magnetic analogue of blue phases does form in the chiral itinerant magnet MnSi in a large part of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 107; no. 3; p. 037207
Main Authors Hamann, A, Lamago, D, Wolf, Th, von Löhneysen, H, Reznik, D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 15.07.2011
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Summary:Chiral nematic liquid crystals sometimes form blue phases characterized by spirals twisting in different directions. By combining model calculations with neutron-scattering experiments, we show that the magnetic analogue of blue phases does form in the chiral itinerant magnet MnSi in a large part of the phase diagram. The properties of this blue phase explain a number of previously reported puzzling features of MnSi such as partial magnetic order and a two-component specific-heat and thermal-expansion anomaly at the magnetic transition.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.107.037207