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Abstract:

The technique of muon spin rotation (μSR) has emerged in the last few decades as one of the most powerful methods of obtaining local magnetic information. To make the technique fully quantitative, it is necessary to have an accurate estimate of where inside the crystal structure the muon implants. This can be provided by density functional theory calculations using an approach that is termed as DFT + μ, density functional theory with the implanted muon included. This article reviews this approach, describes some recent successes in particular μSR experiments, and suggests some avenues for future exploration.

Abstract:

Recently, a new class of quantum magnets, the so-called breathing pyrochlore spin systems, have attracted much attention due to their potential to host exotic emergent phenomena. Here, we present magnetometry, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, muon-spin relaxation, and polarized inelastic neutron scattering measurements performed on high-quality single crystal samples of the breathing pyrochlore compound Ba3Yb2Zn5O11. We interpret these results using a simplified toy model and provide insight into the low-energy physics of this system beyond the single tetrahedron physics proposed previously.