Finite-field entropy accumulation and adiabatic demagnetization cooling in
Phys. Rev. B 114, 214422 – Published 19 October, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/cqrl-lm8n
Abstract
We investigate the relation between anisotropic finite-field phase boundaries, low-temperature entropy accumulation, and adiabatic demagnetization in , a large-spin magnet with a structurally quasi-one-dimensional zigzag-chain motif. Magnetization, heat-capacity, and field-down magnetocaloric effect (MCE) measurements for and are complemented by direct demagnetization of a 20.15-g single crystal for . In zero field, a -type heat-capacity anomaly marks long-range order at , but only about of the entropy is released by , consistent with substantial short-range correlations above the transition. For , the phase boundary extrapolates to a zero-temperature field scale near 1.45 T, whereas for two boundaries near 0.4 and 0.8 T enclose an intermediate phase whose spin structure remains unresolved. Classical Monte Carlo simulations of a minimal quasi-one-dimensional XXZ chain model reproduce the field scale semiquantitatively. Enhanced low-temperature entropy and extrema of the MCE-derived magnetic Grüneisen parameter occur near these phase boundaries. Isentropic estimates from 6 T and 1.8 K give terminal temperatures of about 150 mK at 1.45 T for and 108 mK at 0.4 T for . Direct demagnetization from 8 T and 1.9 K reaches about 155 mK and resolves cooling minima near both 0.8 and 0.4 T, indicating that the field-dependent distribution of low-temperature magnetic entropy, rather than the zero-field limit alone, governs the optimal demagnetization trajectory.