Mixed anion systems, such as oxynitrides and oxyfluorides, are an emerging class of interesting materials. The lower stability of mixed anion systems in comparison to oxide materials has had the consequence that this area of materials research is relatively less well explored. However, the development of new synthesis techniques has resulted in the preparation of many new mixed anion systems and so a detailed understanding of their structure and how this relates to their electronic and magnetic properties is necessary. Within this Thesis, several oxide, oxynitride and oxyfluoride systems are investigated with a particular focus on the magnetic behaviour of materials based on geometrically frustrated pyrochlore and kagome lattices. The Lu2Mo2O7 pyrochlore contains a geometrically frustrated network of vertex sharing Mo4+ (d2 S = 1) tetrahedra. Here, the solid state synthesis of Lu2Mo2O7−x is reported along with a discussion of the coexistence of two cubic pyrochlore phases that has been discovered in samples synthesised at 1600 ◦C. Powder neutron diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis have revealed that this two-phase behaviour originates from a miscibility gap between stoichiometric Lu2Mo2O7 and oxygen deficient Lu2Mo2O6.6. Magnetic susceptibility and muon spin relaxation measurements support the formation of a geometrically frustrated spin glass ground state in Lu2Mo2O7 with a spin freezing temperature Tf ∼ 16 K. Low temperature neutron diffraction has confirmed the absence of long range magnetic order and magnetic diffuse neutron scattering data have indicated the presence of competing nearest and next nearest neighbour antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in the spin glass state. The magnetic heat capacity of Lu2Mo2O7 follows a T2-dependence at the low temperatures, indicating that Lu2Mo2O7 is another rare example of an unconventional, topological spin glass, which is stable in the absence of significant chemical disorder. The magnetic properties of the oxygen deficient pyrochlore phase Lu2Mo2O6.6 are qualitatively similar to those of Lu2Mo2O7, but an increase in the spin freezing temperature Tf ∼ 20 K suggests that oxygen-vacancy disorder in Lu2Mo2O6.6 favours the onset of a glassy state at higher temperatures and enhances the degree of frustration. Oxynitride pyrochlores with the ideal composition R2Mo2O5N2 (R = rare earth) contain Mo5+ d1 S = 1 2 cations on the frustrated pyrochlore lattice and are thus ideal candidates to support exotic magnetic ground states. Here, the synthesis of oxynitride pyrochlores of the Lu2Mo2O7 system by thermal ammonolysis is discussed alongside powder neutron diffraction and susceptibility data that show no evidence for long range magnetic order and an absence of spin freezing down to at least 2 K despite the persistence of strong antiferromagnetic exchange (θ = −120 K). A comparison of the magnetic diffuse neutron scattering between the spin glass state of Lu2Mo2O7 and the oxynitride is given, which suggests that the majority of the magnetic scattering in the oxynitride system is inelastic. In addition, low temperature magnetic heat capacity shows an absence of magnetic phase transitions and a continuous density of states through a T-linear dependence down to 500 mK. [NH4]2[C7H14N][V7O6F18], diammonium quinuclidinium vanadium(III,IV) oxyfluoride or DQVOF, is a kagome bilayer system with a geometrically frustrated two-dimensional kagome network of V4+ d1 S = 1 2 cations and V3+ d2 S = 1 cations between the kagome layers. Here, low temperature magnetisation and heat capacity data are presented, which demonstrate that the interplane V3+ d2 cations are well decoupled from the kagome layers at low temperatures such that DQVOF is a good experimental realisation of a S = 1 2 kagome antiferromagnet. Despite significant antiferromagnetic exchange (θ = −60 K) within the kagome planes, muon spin relaxation data have confirmed the absence of spin freezing and the persistence of internal field fluctuations that are intrinsic to the kagome layers down to temperatures of 40 mK. The low temperature heat capacity of the V4+ kagome network follows T-linear behaviour down to the 300 mK, highlighting the absence of a spin gap in the low energy excitation spectrum of DQVOF. The low temperature magnetic study of DQVOF presented here thus strongly supports the formation of a gapless quantum spin liquid phase. In the final results chapter, a discussion of the anion ordering principles in oxynitride systems is given. A high temperature, high resolution neutron diffraction study of the oxynitride perovskite SrTaO2N has revealed that the partial anion order that results in segregated Ta-N zig-zag chains is stable up to 1100 ◦C. Furthermore, these anion ordering principles are extended to the d1 perovskite oxynitrides RVO2−xN1+x (R = La, Nd, Pr) in a variable temperature neutron diffraction study, which confirms that the anion chain ordering discovered in d0 SrTaO2N is robust to electron doping. The R = La analogue also provides an interesting example of a rhombohedral oxynitride perovskite phase which coexists with an orthorhombic phase over the 4−300 K temperature range of the neutron diffraction study.

This work presents macroscopic and microscopic experiments of the disordered hexagonal double perovskite BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3, in order to characterize its electronic, magnetic and structural properties to support the possibility that this system hosts a spin liquid phase. Such assumption is based on the absence of a transition to a magnetically ordered phase in the magnetic and thermodynamic measurements, which points to a strong magnetic frustration in this material. In addition, it is observed the formation of a correlated spin state. To characterize this correlation, we resorted to Muon Spin Resonance (µSR) experiments to measure the low temperature spin dynamics. The zero field µSR relaxation regime displays dynamic magnetism down to T = 0.019 K and longitudinal field experiments support as well that dynamic magnetism persists at low temperatures, a behavior expected for a spin liquid system. The magnetic behavior of BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3 consists in the high temperature physics being dominated by the presence of magnetic trimers, magnetic dimers, and orphan spins. At lower temperatures, the effective magnetic degrees of freedom, composed by orphan spins and magnetic trimers, are correlated but no phase transition is detected down to T = 0.1 K, despite the effective exchange couplings between magnetic trimers and orphan spins being -8.5 K, resulting in a magnetic frustration parameter of at least 85. The possibility that disorder is responsible for the spin liquid ground state is discussed, however, other scenarios are not totally discarded. For example, the possibility that the measured state is not the true ground state, which could lie at even lowers temperatures or the possible formation of a spin glass state. This work raises questions that are not easy to answer. Ultimately, the growth of a single crystal is necessary to continue the characterization of BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3. Besides, theoretical and experimental developments in this field of research are needed to find a more direct and conclusive way to characterize the magnetic phases in this complex material. / Neste trabalho apresento dados experimentais macroscópicos e microscópicos da peroviskita hexagonal dupla BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3, a fim de caracterizar sua estrutura eletrônica, magnética e cristalina para embasar a possibilidade deste sistema apresentar uma fase de líquido de spin. Esta hipótese está baseada na ausência de transição para uma fase magneticamente ordenada nas medidas magnéticas e termodinâmicas, que apontam para uma forte frustração magnética neste material. Além disso, é observada a formação de um estado de spins correlacionados. Para caracterizar esta correlação, recorremos para experimentos de ressonância de múons (µSR) para medir a dinâmica de spins em baixas temperaturas. Dados de µSR para campo magnético nulo mostram em seu regime de relaxamento um magnetismo dinâmico para temperaturas tão baixas quanto T = 0.019 K, adicionalmente, experimentos com campo magnético longitudinal aplicado apontam também que o magnetismo dinâmico persiste em baixas temperaturas, um comportamento esperado para um sistema de líquido de spin. O comportamento magnético do BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3 consiste na física de altas temperaturas sendo dominada pela presença de trimers magnéticos, dimers magnéticos e spins órfãos. Para temperaturas mais baixas, os graus de liberdade magnéticos são efetivamente compostos por spins órfãos e trimers magnéticos, que estão correlacionados mas nenhuma transição de fase é detectada para temperaturas tão baixas quanto T = 0.1 K, mesmo que a constante de interação efetiva entre os spins órfãos e os trimers magnéticos seja -8.5 K, resultando num fator de frustração magnética de ao menos 85. A possibilidade da desordem ser responsável pelo estado fundamental de líquido de spin é discutida, no entanto, outros cenários não estão totalmente descartados, por exemplo, a possibilidade de que o estado medido não seja o verdadeiro estado fundamental, e que este estaria em temperaturas ainda mais baixas ou a possível formação de um estado de vidro de spin. Este trabalho levanta questões que não são fáceis de responder. Por fim, o crescimento de uma amostra monocristalina é necessário para continuar a caracterização do BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3. Ademais, desenvolvimentos de cunho teórico e experimental neste campo de pesquisa são necessários para encontrar um método mais direto e conclusivo para caracterizar a fase magnética neste material complexo.

This work presents macroscopic and microscopic experiments of the disordered hexagonal double perovskite BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3, in order to characterize its electronic, magnetic and structural properties to support the possibility that this system hosts a spin liquid phase. Such assumption is based on the absence of a transition to a magnetically ordered phase in the magnetic and thermodynamic measurements, which points to a strong magnetic frustration in this material. In addition, it is observed the formation of a correlated spin state. To characterize this correlation, we resorted to Muon Spin Resonance (µSR) experiments to measure the low temperature spin dynamics. The zero field µSR relaxation regime displays dynamic magnetism down to T = 0.019 K and longitudinal field experiments support as well that dynamic magnetism persists at low temperatures, a behavior expected for a spin liquid system. The magnetic behavior of BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3 consists in the high temperature physics being dominated by the presence of magnetic trimers, magnetic dimers, and orphan spins. At lower temperatures, the effective magnetic degrees of freedom, composed by orphan spins and magnetic trimers, are correlated but no phase transition is detected down to T = 0.1 K, despite the effective exchange couplings between magnetic trimers and orphan spins being -8.5 K, resulting in a magnetic frustration parameter of at least 85. The possibility that disorder is responsible for the spin liquid ground state is discussed, however, other scenarios are not totally discarded. For example, the possibility that the measured state is not the true ground state, which could lie at even lowers temperatures or the possible formation of a spin glass state. This work raises questions that are not easy to answer. Ultimately, the growth of a single crystal is necessary to continue the characterization of BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3. Besides, theoretical and experimental developments in this field of research are needed to find a more direct and conclusive way to characterize the magnetic phases in this complex material. / Neste trabalho apresento dados experimentais macroscópicos e microscópicos da peroviskita hexagonal dupla BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3, a fim de caracterizar sua estrutura eletrônica, magnética e cristalina para embasar a possibilidade deste sistema apresentar uma fase de líquido de spin. Esta hipótese está baseada na ausência de transição para uma fase magneticamente ordenada nas medidas magnéticas e termodinâmicas, que apontam para uma forte frustração magnética neste material. Além disso, é observada a formação de um estado de spins correlacionados. Para caracterizar esta correlação, recorremos para experimentos de ressonância de múons (µSR) para medir a dinâmica de spins em baixas temperaturas. Dados de µSR para campo magnético nulo mostram em seu regime de relaxamento um magnetismo dinâmico para temperaturas tão baixas quanto T = 0.019 K, adicionalmente, experimentos com campo magnético longitudinal aplicado apontam também que o magnetismo dinâmico persiste em baixas temperaturas, um comportamento esperado para um sistema de líquido de spin. O comportamento magnético do BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3 consiste na física de altas temperaturas sendo dominada pela presença de trimers magnéticos, dimers magnéticos e spins órfãos. Para temperaturas mais baixas, os graus de liberdade magnéticos são efetivamente compostos por spins órfãos e trimers magnéticos, que estão correlacionados mas nenhuma transição de fase é detectada para temperaturas tão baixas quanto T = 0.1 K, mesmo que a constante de interação efetiva entre os spins órfãos e os trimers magnéticos seja -8.5 K, resultando num fator de frustração magnética de ao menos 85. A possibilidade da desordem ser responsável pelo estado fundamental de líquido de spin é discutida, no entanto, outros cenários não estão totalmente descartados, por exemplo, a possibilidade de que o estado medido não seja o verdadeiro estado fundamental, e que este estaria em temperaturas ainda mais baixas ou a possível formação de um estado de vidro de spin. Este trabalho levanta questões que não são fáceis de responder. Por fim, o crescimento de uma amostra monocristalina é necessário para continuar a caracterização do BaTi1/2Mn1/2O3. Ademais, desenvolvimentos de cunho teórico e experimental neste campo de pesquisa são necessários para encontrar um método mais direto e conclusivo para caracterizar a fase magnética neste material complexo.

L'objectif de cette thèse était de développer un magnétomètre à force de Faraday pour mesurer des valeurs absolues de l'aimantation à très basse température (30 mK) et fort champ magnétique (16 T) avec une haute sensibilité (10-5 emu). Ce magnétomètre sera principalement utilisé pour sonder les propriétés induites sous champ dans les systèmes magnétiques frustrés.Dans une première partie, je détaille le développement de ce magnétomètre. Cela comprend l'optimisation du réfrigérateur à dilution et de bobines de gradient de champ ainsi que le développement d'une détection capacitive avec un étage amplificateur à froid pour améliorer la sensibilité de la mesure. Les mesures magnétiques préliminaires sont présentées. Les changements nécessaires pour rendre le magnétomètre opérationnel sont discutés.Dans une seconde partie, je présente l'étude expérimentale de systèmes magnétiques frustrés: des grenats de Gadolinium, décrits par des spins classiques, et des composés moléculaires frustrés à base de Cuivre, pour sonder les effets quantiques. Ces mesures ont été réalisées entre 70 mK et 300 K sur les magnétomètres existant à l'Institut Néel.Dans Gd3Ga5O12, nous avons complété le diagramme de phases H-T. Nous avons montré la robustesse de ce diagramme de phases par notre étude sur le composé isomorphe GGd3Al5O12. Nous avons mis en évidence la convergence de toutes les phases observées en un unique point dans les deux systèmes.Dans les systèmes quantiques, nous avons réalisé des études préliminaires sur des clusters Cu44 à base de tétraèdres, et un système triangulaire Cu3. Bien que prometteuses, nous n'avons pas approfondi ces études à cause de problèmes d'échantillons. / The objective of this work was to develop a Faraday force magnetometer to measureabsolute values of the magnetization at very low temperatures (30 mK) andhigh applied magnetic fields (16 T) with a high sensitivity (10-5 emu). This magnetometer will be especially dedicated to the study of the field induced properties of frustrated magnets.In a first part, I present the development of this magnetometer. It involves the optimization of the dilution refrigerator and field gradient coils, and the development of a capacitive detection with a cold amplifier stage to improve the measurement sensitivity. Preliminary magnetic measurements are shown. The changes in the design required to make the magnetometer operational are discussed.In a second part, I focus on experimental studies of frustrated magnets: Gadolinium garnets, described by classical spins, and Copper based frustrated molecular compounds, to probe quantum effects. These measurements were performed from 70 mK to 300 K, with the existing magnetometers at the Institut Neel.In Gd3Ga5O12, we have complemented the H-T phase diagram. This phase diagram was proven to be robust by our study on the isomorphous compound, Gd3Al5O12. We evidence the convergence of all the observed phases to a unique point in both samples.In quantum systems, we performed preliminary studies on Cu44 clusters with tetrahedral motives, and on a triangular system Cu3. Although promising, these studies were not pursued due to sample problems.

Pyrochlore iridates have received considerable attention for the past few years as they possess strong electron correlations and spin orbit coupling, giving rise to a finite temperature metal-insulator transition (MIT). The nature of this MIT transition is related to the magnetic order of the Ir atoms which also experience frustration as they are part of a pyrochore structure. The aim of this study is to elucidate the magnetic configuration of the magnetic iridium ions by doping Y2Ir2O7 with Bi. Here we present a study on the magnetic properties of the Y2−xBixIr2O7 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.9, 1.3, 2) system using μSR and DC susceptibility. Our results show that pure Y2Ir2O7 has a magnetic transition to a long- range ordered state. Substituting Bi by Y results in a lower temperature transition with increasing amount of bismuth. When the system goes into the ordered state a weak ferromagnetic moment is seen. This is in agreement with the belief that the system orders in an canted antiferromagnetic fashion with all-in all-out spins in the tetrahedron of the pyrochlore structure. However the addition of bismuth into the sample does not change the internal magnetic field measured at low temperatures with μSR, but only changes the transition temperature and the ordered volume fraction. For the Bi2Ir2O7 system two magnetic transitions had been measured previously counter to the belief that this material did not order magnetically. In this work, our μSR measurements show no evidence of such a transition. In the transverse field μSR set up a small Knight shift is measured due to the local susceptibility of Bi2Ir2O7. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Magnetic frustration is the underpinning theme to all of the magnetic oxide systems explored in this dissertation. The materials studied in this thesis belong to two topical families of interest in modern condensed matter physics, namely, the rare-earth titanates R2Ti2O7 and the double perovskites A2BB'O6. Chapter 1 provides the theoretical background necessary to understand the crystalline systems studied in this thesis. Chapter 2 explains the necessity of utilizing neutron scattering and x-ray experiments to tease out the key signatures which were essential to formulating the conclusions made in each study. Chapter 3 outlines the neutron scattering techniques which were employed to investigate the crystal systems. The first objective of this thesis is to understand effect of “stuffing” on the ground state anisotropy of the quantum spin liquid candidate Yb2Ti2O7 via an investigation of the crystal-field excitations in intentionally stuffed samples. The pentultimate study was performed on the monoclinic crystal systems, La2LiRuO6 and La2LiOsO6, to discern the effect of lattice distortions on the spin-orbit induced magnetic ground state of 4d3 and 5d3 double perovskites based on Ru and Os magnetic ions. The final investigation involves an inelastic neutron scattering investigation of magnetic ground states in three d2 double perovskites, Ba2CaOsO6, Ba2MgOsO6 and Ba2ZnOsO6. Here, we make the case for novel octupolar order below their respective transition temperatures T* of 50 K, 49 K and 30 K based on information provided by neutron scattering, heat capacity, muon spin relaxation and synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Orientador: Eduardo Granado Monteiro da Silva / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Fisica Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T10:44:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GarciaFlores_AliFrancisco_D.pdf: 13566833 bytes, checksum: e4298b0e0c3ed24044ce44f96adc43dd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Nesta tese são investigados dois sistemas magneticamente frustrados, a série de compostos isolantes RMn2O5 (R = Eu, Bi, Dy) e o composto intermetálico GdAI3, além do material isolante não frustrado de perovskita dupla Sr2CoUO6. O estudo destes sistemas foi realizado utilizando principalmente a técnica de Espectroscopia Raman e complementado por medidas de susceptibilidade magnética. Para o sistema RMn2O5(R = Eu, Bi, e Dy) apresentamos um estudo dos fônons ópticos de baixa e alta freqüência. Todos os cristais estudados mostraram deslocamentos anômalos nas freqüências dos fônons abaixo de uma nova temperatura característica, T* ~ 60-65 K. O sinal e magnitude dos deslocamentos dos fônons parecem estar correlacionados com o raio iônico de R. Por exemplo, analisando os fônons de alta freqüência, observamos amolecimento dos fônons para R = Bi e um endurecimento para R = Dy, e um comportamento intermediário para R = Eu no intervalo de temperatura entre TC / TN e T*, onde TC e TN são as temperaturas de transição ferrolétrica e antiferromagnética, respectivamente. Já para os fônons de baixa freqüência é observado um amolecimento dos fônons para R = Bi e um endurecimento para R = Eu e Dy na mesma região paramagnética, (TC/TN < T < T* ). Anomalias dos fônons foram também identificadas abaixo de TN ~ 40-43 K, refletindo o início de uma ordem magnética e/ou ferroelétrica de longo alcance da subrede de Mn. Medidas complementares de susceptibilidade magnética dc (x(T)) para o cristal RMn2O5 no intervalo de temperatura entre 2 e 800 K revelaram uma temperatura de Curie-Weiss q CW = -253(3) K, apresentando um grande parâmetro de frustração ( q CW = TN). A curva do inverso de x (T), subtraindo o termo diamagnético, sofre um desvio do comportamento de Curie-Weiss devido a correlações magnéticas abaixo de temperaturas da ordem de ~ qCW . Também, um aspecto interessante é a derivada do inverso da susceptibilidade, a qual mostra pontos de in exfleao a ~ 160 K e ~ T*, sendo esta última, a temperatura abaixo da qual as anomalias dos fônons foram observadas. Estes dados magnéticos dão apoio a nossas interpretações de medidas Raman, onde deslocamentos anômalos de fônons abaixo de T* são associados ao acoplamento spin-fônon, em um cenário de fortes correlações magnéticas. Portanto, nossos resultados sustentam uma frustração magnética significante, introduzindo uma nova temperatura característica T* e sugerindo um comportamento interessante para as correlações magnéticas na fase paramagnética neste sistema RMn2O5 (R = Eu, Bi, e Dy). No material GdAl3 as interações entre o grau de liberdade de spin e os deslocamentos atômicos foram estudadas por meio do espalhamento Raman polarizado em função da temperatura. Neste composto a camada de Gd 4 f 7é esférica, indicando que os efeitos de campo cristalino são de ordem superiores. O estudo do acoplamento spin-rede pode fornecer evidências do mecanismo de troca e o grau de correlações magnéticas neste sistema. Nossas medidas de espalhamento Raman em superfícies frescas mostraram fônons com comportamento de freqüência convencional, enquanto que superfícies crescidas naturalmente e polidas apresentam anomalias na freqüência dos fônons abaixo de uma temperatura característica T** ~ 50 K. Tais anomalias são possivelmente devido a uma modulação da energia magnética pelas vibrações da rede em uma fase paramagnética fortemente correlacionada. Um estado de spin totalmente correlacionado imediatamente acima de TN é deduzido de nossos resultados neste sistema frustrado. Também, sugerimos que o acoplamento spin-fônon em metais pode depender das condições de superfície da amostra devido a que anomalias dos fônons foram observadas só nas amostras de superfícies envelhecidas. Finalmente, para a perovskita dupla Sr2CoUO6, os modos Raman de primeira e alta ordem foram estudos em função da temperatura. Nossos dados de espalhamento Raman revelam a existência de duas temperaturas características, T1 ~ 150 K e T2 ~ 300 K, onde são observados comportamentos não convencionais das intensidades dos espectros Raman e um amolecimento anômalo na freqüência de um fônon de alta freqüência abaixo de T2. Estas anomalias sugerem a possibilidade de transições de fase estruturais e/ou eletrônicas a essas temperaturas características. Baseado nas modificações relevantes dos espectros Raman e o comportamento quase constante das posições dos modos de alta ordem com a temperatura, sugerimos uma contribuição do mecanismo Franck-Condon neste sistema / Abstract: In this thesis we present an investigation of two magnetically frustrated systems, namely the RMn2O5 series (R = Eu, Bi, Dy) and the intermetallic compound GdAl3, in addition to the double perovskite compound Sr2CoUO 6. These systems were studied mainly using the Raman spectroscopy technique and complemented with magnetic susceptibility measurements. For the system RMn2O5 (R = Bi, Eu, and Dy), we present a study of the low- and high-frequency optical phonons. All studied materials show anomalous phonon shifts below a new characteristic temperature, T*~ 60-65 K. The sign and magnitude of such shifts appear to be correlated with the ionic radius of R. For instance, the high-energy phonons evolve from softenings for R = Bi to hardenings for R = Dy, and show an intermediary behavior for R = Eu in the temperature range between TC/TN and T*. On the other hand, the low-frequency anomalous phonon behaviors show softenings for R = Bi and hardening for R = Eu and Dy in the same paramagnetic range ( TC/TN < T < T*). Additional phonon anomalies were identified below ~ TN ~ 40-43 K, re ecting the onset of long-range ferroelectric and/or magnetic order of the Mn sublattice. Complementary dc-magnetic susceptibility [x(T)] measurements for BiMn2O5 up to 800 K yield a Curie-Weiss temperature q CW = -253(3) K, revealing a fairly large frustration ratio ( q CW / TN). Deviations of the inverse magnetic suceptibility, substracting the diamagnetic term, from a Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior due to magnetic correlations were observed below temperatures of the order of q CW . An interesting feature is the derivative of the inverse susceptibility, which shows in ection points at ~ 160 K and ~ T*. Supported by x(T) data, the anomalous Raman phonons shifts below T* are interpreted in terms of the spin-phonon coupling, in a scenario of strong magnetic correlations. Overall, these results support significant magnetic frustration, introducing a new characteristic temperature ( T*), and suggest a surprinsingly rich behavior for the magnetic correlations in the paramagnetic phase in this system. In GdAl3, the interaction among the spin degree of freedom and the atomic displacements were investigated by means of polarized Raman scattering. In this compound the Gd 4 f 7 shell is spherical, indicating that the crystal field e ect can be neglected. The spin-lattice coupling provide a fingerprint of the exchange mechanism and degree of magnetic correlations in this system. Raman scattering in fresh broken surfaces shows phonons with conventional frequency behavior, while naturally grown and polished surfaces present frequency anomalies below a characteristic temperature T** ~ 50 K. Such anomalies are possibly due to a modulation of the magnetic energy by the lattice vibrations in a strongly spin-correlated paramagnetic phase. A fully spin-correlated state inmediately above TN is inferred from our results in this frustrated system. Also, we suggest that the spin-phonon coupling in metals may depend in the surface conditions due to phonon anomalies were observed only in old-surface samples. Finally, for the Sr2CoUO6 double perovskite, the first- and higher-order Raman modes were studied as a function of temperature. Our Raman scattering results revealed the existence of two characteristic temperatures, T1 ~ 150 K e T2 ~ 300 K, where we observed unconvencional intensity behaviors of the Raman spectra and an anomalous softening of a particular high-energy mode below T2. These anomalies suggest structural and/or electronic phase transitions at such characteristic temperatures. Based on relevant modifications of the Raman spectra and the near-constant position behavior with temperature, we suggest a contribution of the Franck-Condon mechanism in this system / Doutorado / Física da Matéria Condensada / Doutor em Ciências

Cette thèse porte sur l'étude de systèmes quantiques à N-corps à température nulle, où le comportement du système n'est alors soumis qu'aux effets quantiques. Je vais présenter ici une approche variationnelle développée avec Tommaso Roscilde, mon directeur de thèse, et Fabio Mezzacapo, mon co-encadrant de thèse, pour étudier ces systèmes.Cette approche se base sur une parametrisation de l’état quantique (dit Ansatz) à laquelle on applique une procédure d’optimisation variationnelle lui permettant de reproduire l'évolution d'un système soumis à l'équation de Schrödinger, tout en limitant le nombre de variables considérées. En considérant une évolution en temps imaginaire, il est possible d'étudier l'état fondamental d'un système. Je me suis ainsi intéressé à un modèle de chaîne XX de spins 1/2, dont les corrélations à longue portée rendent l'étude difficile, et adapté ainsi notre approche pour reproduire au mieux les corrélations et l'intrication du système. Je me suis ensuite intéressé au modèle J1-J2 dont la structure de signe non positive des coefficients de l’état quantique pose un défi important pour les approches Monte Carlo; et dans laquelle la frustration magnétique induit une transition de phase quantique (d’un état aux corrélations à longue porté vers un état non magnétique avec formation d’un cristal de lien de valence). Je me suis enfin intéressé à l'évolution temporelle d'un système à N-corps à partir d'un état non stationnaire. J'ai pu étudier la capacité de notre approche à reproduire la croissance linéaire de l’intrication dans le temps, ce qui est un obstacle fondamental pour les approches alternatives telles que le groupe de renormalisation de la matrice densité. / This thesis presents a study of quantum many-body systems at zero temperature, where the behavior of the system is purely driven by the quantum effects. I will introduce a variationnal approach developped with Tommaso Roscilde, my PhD supervisor, and Fabio Mezzacapo, my co-supervisor, in order to study these systems.This approach is based on a parametrisation of the quantum state (named Ansatz) on which we apply a variational optimisation, allowing us reproduce the system's evolution under Schrödinger's equation with a limited number of variables.By considering an imaginary-time evolution, it is possible to reconstruct the system's ground state. I focused on S=1/2 XX spin chain, where the long-range quantum correlations complicate a variational study; and I have specifically targeted our Ansatz in order to reproduce the correlations and the entanglement of the ground state. Moreover I considered the antiferromagnetic S=1/2 J1-J2 spin chain, where the non-trivial sign structure of the coefficients of the quantum state introduces an important challenge for the quantum Monte Carlo approach; and where the magnetic frustration induces a quantum phase transition (from a state with long range correlations to a non-magnetic state in the form of a valence-bond crystal).Finally I focused on the time evolution of a quantum many-body system starting from a non-stationary state. I studied the ability of our approach to reproduce the linear increase of the entanglement during time, which is a fondamental obstacle for other approaches such as the density-matrix renormalization group.

<p>Materials with new or improved properties are crucial for technological development. To provide the foundation for future successful products, it is important to prepare and characterise new chemical compounds that could show unusual properties. The properties of magnetic materials are closely related to their crystal, magnetic and electronic structures. This thesis focuses on the novel synthesis and structural characterisation of a number of new ternary or <i>pseudo</i>-ternary silicides and germanides of manganese with iridium, cobalt or palladium. To provide a more complete picture of the complex magnetic properties, crystal and magnetic structure refinements by the Rietveld method of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data are complemented by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, magnetisation measurements and Reverse Monte Carlo simulations of magnetic short-range order. The experimental results are corroborated by first-principles electronic structure and total energy calculations. </p><p>A commensurate non-collinear antiferromagnetic structure is found for most compounds of the solid solution Mn₃Ir_1-yCo_ySi_1-xGe_x. The non-collinearity is a result of geometric frustration in a crystal structure with magnetic Mn atoms located on a three-dimensional network of triangles. The close structural similarity to the β-modification of elemental manganese, which does not order magnetically, inspired a closer theoretical comparison of the Mn₃Ir_1-yCo_ySi_1-xGe_x propertieswith β-Mn.</p><p>Magnetic frustration is also observed for Mn₄Ir_7-xMn_xGe₆, and is an important factor underlying the dramatic change from commensurate antiferromagnetic order to spin glass properties induced by a small variation in Mn concentration. Magnetic short-range order with dominant antiferromagnetic correlation is observed for Mn₈Pd₁₅Si₇, and results from a random distribution of Mn atoms in-between the geometrically frustrated magnetic moments on the Mn octahedra. </p><p>An incommensurate cycloidal magnetic structure, observed for IrMnSi, is stabilised by an electronic structure effect, which also accounts for the non-collinearity of the Mn₃IrSi type magnetic structure.</p>

Materials with new or improved properties are crucial for technological development. To provide the foundation for future successful products, it is important to prepare and characterise new chemical compounds that could show unusual properties. The properties of magnetic materials are closely related to their crystal, magnetic and electronic structures. This thesis focuses on the novel synthesis and structural characterisation of a number of new ternary or pseudo-ternary silicides and germanides of manganese with iridium, cobalt or palladium. To provide a more complete picture of the complex magnetic properties, crystal and magnetic structure refinements by the Rietveld method of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data are complemented by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, magnetisation measurements and Reverse Monte Carlo simulations of magnetic short-range order. The experimental results are corroborated by first-principles electronic structure and total energy calculations. A commensurate non-collinear antiferromagnetic structure is found for most compounds of the solid solution Mn3Ir1-yCoySi1-xGex. The non-collinearity is a result of geometric frustration in a crystal structure with magnetic Mn atoms located on a three-dimensional network of triangles. The close structural similarity to the β-modification of elemental manganese, which does not order magnetically, inspired a closer theoretical comparison of the Mn3Ir1-yCoySi1-xGex propertieswith β-Mn. Magnetic frustration is also observed for Mn4Ir7-xMnxGe6, and is an important factor underlying the dramatic change from commensurate antiferromagnetic order to spin glass properties induced by a small variation in Mn concentration. Magnetic short-range order with dominant antiferromagnetic correlation is observed for Mn8Pd15Si7, and results from a random distribution of Mn atoms in-between the geometrically frustrated magnetic moments on the Mn octahedra. An incommensurate cycloidal magnetic structure, observed for IrMnSi, is stabilised by an electronic structure effect, which also accounts for the non-collinearity of the Mn3IrSi type magnetic structure.