Towards understanding the magnetic properties of the breathing pyrochlore compound Ba3Yb2Zn5O11through single-crystal studies

Abstract Ba 3 Yb 2 Zn 5 O 11 is exceptional among breathing pyrochlore compounds for being in the nearly-decoupled limit where inter-tetrahedron interactions are weak, hosting isolated clusters or molecular magnet-like tetrahedra of magnetic ytterbium (Yb 3+ ) ions. In this work, we present study carried out on single-crystal samples , using a variety magnetometry and neutron scattering techniques along with theoretical modeling. We employ inelastic to investigate dynamics as function applied field (with respect both magnitude direction) down temperature 70 mK, reveals dispersionless bands excitations found earlier powder sample studies, good agreement single-tetrahedron model. However, diffuse at zero dc-susceptibility finite exhibit features suggesting presence low-energy that not captured by single tetrahedron Analysis local structure K via pair distribution analysis finds no evidence structural disorder. conclude effects beyond model important describing low-energy, low-temperature physics but their nature remains undetermined.