Anomalous magnetic properties of CaRuO3 probed by AC and DC magnetic measurements and by low Ti impurity doping

Abstract

Calcium ruthenate ($CaRuO_3$) is widely believed to be located close to a quantum critical point due to the strong non-Fermi-liquid behavior expressed in the temperature dependence of electronic transport, specific heat, optical conductivity, etc. However, the corresponding anomalous behavior, marking crossover temperature regimes in the magnetic response of $CaRuO_3$, is still lacking. Here we report detailed AC and DC magnetic susceptibility measurements of $CaRuO_3$ and $CaRu_{0.97}Ti_{0.03}O_3$. The AC magnetic susceptibility measurements of the $CaRuO_3$ show a slight dependence on the frequency of AC magnetic field below ~ 40 K, and an additional subtle change of curvature around 12 K. We interpret these results as a critical slowing down of spin fluctuations towards T=0 K. We confirm these observations by magnetic measurements of $CaRu_{0.97}Ti_{0.03}O_3$, which show a pronounced magnetic response corresponding to the above temperatures.