Emergence of field-induced memory effect in spin ices

Abstract

Out-of-equilibrium investigation of strongly correlated materials deciphers the hidden equilibrium properties. Herein, we have investigated the out-of-equilibrium magnetic properties of polycrystalline Dy2Ti2O7 and Ho2Ti2O7 spin ices. Our experimental findings reveal the emergence of magnetic field-induced anomalous hysteresis observed solely in temperature-and magnetic field-dependent AC susceptibility measurements. The observed memory effect (anomalous thermomagnetic hysteresis) exhibits a strong dependence on both thermal and non-thermal driving variables. Owing to the non-collinear spin structure, the applied DC bias magnetic field produces quenched disorder sites in the cooperative Ising spin matrix and suppresses the spin-phonon coupling. These quench disorders create a dynamic spin correlation, having slow spin relaxation and quick decay time, which additionally contribute to AC susceptibility. The initial conditions and measurement protocol decide the magnitude and sign of this dynamical term contributing to AC susceptibility. It is being suggested that such out-of-equilibrium properties arise from the combined influences of geometric frustration, disorder, and the cooperative nature of spin dynamics exhibited by these materials.