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  • Letter
  • Open Access

Pressure effect on the spin density wave transition in La2PrNi2O6.96

Rustem Khasanov*, Igor Plokhikh, Thomas J. Hicken, Hubertus Luetkens, Dariusz J. Gawryluk, and Zurab Guguchia

  • PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences CNM, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland

  • *Contact author: rustem.khasanov@psi.ch
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Phys. Rev. Research 7, L022046 – Published 30 May, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L022046

Abstract

High-pressure studies reveal a stark contrast between the superconducting properties of double-layer Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) nickelates La2PrNi2O7 and La3Ni2O7. While La2PrNi2O7 exhibits bulk superconductivity, La3Ni2O7 displays filamentary behavior, suggesting that superconductivity is confined to phase interfaces rather than the bulk. Since magnetism emerges near the superconducting phase, understanding its differences in La3Ni2O7 and La2PrNi2O7 is essential for clarifying their underlying electronic and magnetic properties. In this work we study the magnetic responce of La2PrNi2O6.96 under pressures up to 2.3 GPa using the muon-spin rotation/relaxation (μSR) technique. The application of external pressure increases the Néel temperature TN from approximately 161 K at ambient pressure (p=0) to about 170 K at p=2.30GPa. The temperature dependence of the internal magnetic field Bint(T) (i.e., the magnetic order parameter) follows the power-law relation Bint=Bint(0)(1−[T/TN]α)β, with consistent exponent values of α≃1.95 and β≃0.35 across different pressures. The value of the ordered moments at the Ni sites, which is proportional to Bint, remain unaffected by pressure. Our findings suggest that the magnetic properties of double-layer RP nickelate La3Ni2O7 are broadly unaffected by Pr to La substitution. The slightly elevated Néel temperature for La2PrNi2O7 compared to La3Ni2O7 represents the most notable distinction, suggesting subtle effects arising from Pr substitution within the studied pressure range.

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Phys. Rev. Research 7, L022046– Published 30 May, 2025
  • Received 7 March 2025
  • Accepted 22 April 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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