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    Field-induced quantum first-order transition in a two-dimensional frustrated antiferromagnet

    M. Fujihala1,*, M. Hagihala2, M. Ishikado3, Dita P. Sari4,5, I. Watanabe5, W. Higemoto1,6, C. Tabata1,2, and K. Kaneko1,2

    • *Contact author: fujihala@post.j-parc.jp

    Phys. Rev. B 113, 064409 – Published 6 February, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/7nqp-9m4x

    Abstract

    We report a field-induced quantum first-order transition in the quasi-two-dimensional antiferromagnet KCoPO4·H2O. Using highly oriented microcrystals with H∥b, polarization neutron diffraction directly resolves microscopic coexistence between an incommensurate cycloid and a commensurate collinear state on the same specimen, together with a discontinuous jump of the ordering vector from q=(δ,0,0) (δ=0.1747) to q=0. Magnetization and specific heat show a step and a collapse of the C/T anomaly near μ0Hc≈0.6T with no measurable hysteresis, consistent with strong quantum-fluctuation-induced rounding of first-order signatures in the T→0 limit. LF-μSR reveals two-component relaxation and loss of the late-time tail around Hc, with slow fluctuations persisting to 0.06 K. The H−T phase diagram exhibits a narrow coexistence region. By the symmetry of space group Pmn21 (Moriya's rules), the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya vector is constrained predominantly within the bc plane, thereby favoring a spiral with q∥a. Conversely, XY anisotropy competes with this tendency, producing a near degeneracy between the incommensurate cycloid and the commensurate collinear state and promoting a first-order switch under field sweep. KCoPO4·H2O thus provides a clean insulating platform and a microscopic standard for identifying quantum first-order transitions in frustrated magnets.

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