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    Frustration-induced dimensional reduction and coexistence of long- and short-range magnetic order in NdCl3

    Eli Zoghlin1,*, Matthew B. Stone2, Vasile O. Garlea2, Matthias D. Frontzek2, Andrew D. Christianson1, and Andrew F. May1,†

    • *Contact author: zoghlinea@ornl.gov
    • †Contact author: mayaf@ornl.gov

    Phys. Rev. B 114, 214427 – Published 23 October, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/1b93-8m54

    Abstract

    The phenomenon of frustration greatly enriches the accessible physics of quantum magnets. With this in mind, we study the magnetism of NdCl3 using a combination of bulk property measurements and neutron scattering techniques. The low-temperature heat capacity reveals two magnetic transitions at TN1 = 270 mK and TN2 = 180 mK. However, much of the magnetic entropy is released above TN1, manifesting as a broad peak centered at T*≈ 450 mK. A similar broad peak is observed in the magnetic susceptibility, which possesses a clear anisotropy; these data can be well fit using a one-dimensional XXZ model, yielding an antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor exchange JNN = –0.962(2) K and exchange anisotropy close to the Ising limit. Single-crystal elastic neutron scattering reveals highly anisotropic magnetic diffuse scattering above TN1, confirming that quasi-one-dimensional, short-range, antiferromagnetic order is the origin of the broad peak in the heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility. Magnetic Bragg peaks characterized by a k⃗ = (0 0 12) propagation vector emerge below TN1. Interestingly, the magnetic diffuse scattering persists for TN2<T<TN1, indicating a regime of coexisting short- and long-range order. The magnetic Bragg peaks exhibit an additional increase in intensity below TN2 with no change in k⃗. Concomitantly, the diffuse scattering disappears, indicating the attainment of full long-range order. While the precise nature of the ordered magnetic ground state remains unresolved, the observed magnetic scattering indicates predominant c-axis moments with a small ab-plane component. We propose that the quasi-one-dimensional behavior and the coexistence of short- and long-range order are driven by frustration of exchange interactions with significant anisotropy.

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