Transition to long-range order in the three-dimensional random-field Ising model

J. P. Hill; T. R. Thurston; R. W. Erwin; M. J. Ramstad; R. J. Birgeneau

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.66.3281

Transition to long-range order in the three-dimensional random-field Ising model

J. P. Hill, T. R. Thurston, R. W. Erwin, M. J. Ramstad, and R. J. Birgeneau

Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 3281 – Published 24 June 1991

Abstract

We report both synchrotron-x-ray and neutron-diffraction studies of the magnetic ordering in a crystal of ${Mn}_{0.75}$ ${Zn}_{0.25}$ $F_{2}$ in a magnetic field. The neutron experiments reproduce previous results showing the establishment of a short-range domain state on cooling in a field. Remarkably, the magnetic x-ray scattering shows that within a few microns of the surface there is a second-order transition to true long-range order on field cooling. Implications of these results are discussed.

Received 13 March 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.66.3281

Authors & Affiliations

J. P. Hill, T. R. Thurston, R. W. Erwin, M. J. Ramstad, and R. J. Birgeneau

Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899