1306.0759 (A. J. Princep et al.)

Crystal field states in a Quantum Spin Ice]{Crystal field states of
Pr$^{3+}$ in the candidate quantum spin ice Pr$_{2}$Sn$_{2}$O$_{7}$    [PDF]

A. J. Princep, D. Prabhakaran, A. T. Boothroyd, D. T. Adroja

Neutron time-of-flight spectroscopy has been employed to study the crystal-field splitting of Pr$^{3+}$ in the pyrochlore stannate Pr$_{2}$Sn$_{2}$O$_{7}$. The crystal field has been parameterized from a profile fit to the observed neutron spectrum. The single-ion ground state is a well isolated non-Kramers doublet of $\Gamma_3^+$ symmetry with extreme Ising-like anisotropy, $\chi_{zz} /\chi_\perp \approx 60$ at 10 K, but with a significant admixture of non-Ising terms that give rise to quantum zero-point fluctuations. This magnetic state satisfies the requirements for quantum spin ice behavior.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1306.0759