Search

A phase transition occurs when correlated regions of a new phase grow to span the system and the fluctuations within the correlated regions become long lived. Here, we present neutron scattering measurements showing that this conventional picture must be replaced in YFe2Al10, a compound that forms naturally very close to a T = 0 quantum phase transition. Fully quantum mechanical fluctuations of localized moments are found to diverge at low energies and temperatures; however, the fluctuating moments are entirely without spatial correlations. Zero temperature order in YFe2Al10 is achieved by an entirely local type of quantum phase transition that may originate with the creation of the moments themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phase transition occurs when correlated regions of a new phase grow to span the system and the fluctuations within the correlated regions become long lived. Here, we present neutron scattering measurements showing that this conventional picture must be replaced in YFe2Al10, a compound that forms naturally very close to a T = 0 quantum phase transition. Fully quantum mechanical fluctuations of localized moments are found to diverge at low energies and temperatures; however, the fluctuating moments are entirely without spatial correlations. Zero temperature order in YFe2Al10 is achieved by an entirely local type of quantum phase transition that may originate with the creation of the moments themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phase transition occurs when correlated regions of a new phase grow to span the system and the fluctuations within the correlated regions become long lived. Here, we present neutron scattering measurements showing that this conventional picture must be replaced in YFe 2 Al 10 , a compound that forms naturally very close to a [Formula: see text] quantum phase transition. Fully quantum mechanical fluctuations of localized moments are found to diverge at low energies and temperatures; however, the fluctuating moments are entirely without spatial correlations. Zero temperature order in YFe 2 Al 10 is achieved by an entirely local type of quantum phase transition that may originate with the creation of the moments themselves., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.