The Two-Dimensional Square-Lattice S=1/2 Antiferromagnet Cu(pz)$_2$(ClO$_4$)$_2

• Main Authors: Tsyrulin, N, Xiao, F, Schneidewind, A, Link, P, Rønnow, H. M, Gavilano, J, Landee, C. P, Turnbull, M. M, Kenzelmann, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 14.07.2010
• Subjects: Physics - Strongly Correlated Electrons
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1007.2279

Phys. Rev. B 81, 134409 (2010) We present an experimental study of the two-dimensional S=1/2 square-lattice antiferromagnet Cu(pz)$_2$(ClO$_4$)$_2$ (pz denotes pyrazine - $C_4H_4N_2$) using specific heat measurements, neutron diffraction and cold-neutron spectroscopy. The magnetic field dependence of the magnetic ordering temperature was determined from specific heat measurements for fields perpendicular and parallel to the square-lattice planes, showing identical field-temperature phase diagrams. This suggest that spin anisotropies in Cu(pz)$_2$(ClO$_4$)$_2$ are small. The ordered antiferromagnetic structure is a collinear arrangement with the magnetic moments along either the crystallographic b- or c-axis. The estimated ordered magnetic moment at zero field is m_0=0.47(5)mu_B and thus much smaller than the available single-ion magnetic moment. This is evidence for strong quantum fluctuations in the ordered magnetic phase of Cu(pz)$_2$(ClO$_4$)$_2$. Magnetic fields applied perpendicular to the square-lattice planes lead to an increase of the antiferromagnetically ordered moment to m_0=0.93(5)mu_B at mu_0H=13.5T - evidence that magnetic fields quench quantum fluctuations. Neutron spectroscopy reveals the presence of a gapped spin excitations at the antiferromagnetic zone center, and it can be explained with a slightly anisotropic nearest neighbor exchange coupling described by J_1^{xy}=1.563(13)meV and J_1^z=0.9979(2)J_1^{xy}.