Linear and non-linear AC susceptibilities of the spin glass Eu0.4Sr0.6S

Abstract

The linear and non-linear susceptibilities of a spin-glass Eu0.4Sr0.6S system have been measured in the temperature range from 1.2 to 4.2 K, for frequencies between 1 and 234 Hz. The freezing temperature Tf( omega to 0) of the system is found to be 1.60+or-0.02 K, as determined from the Cole-Cole analysis using the linear-susceptibility data. In the vicinity of Tf the non-linear susceptibility varies much more strongly with temperature than the linear susceptibility does. The third-harmonic results show the beginning of a power-law divergence chi 3 varies as in - gamma , where in =(T-Tf)/Tf, and the curve quickly becomes rounded. This behaviour suggests a cooperative phenomenon that is greatly modified by strong dynamical and non-equilibrium effects as Tf is approached. The critical exponent gamma is estimated to be 2.35+or-0.20 in the limited temperature region where a fit was obtained. In addition it is experimentally found that even a small DC field has a large effect on the third harmonic.