We report a study on the heat transport of an S = 1 Haldane chain compound Ni(C_3H_{10}N_2)_2NO_2ClO_4 at low temperatures and in magnetic fields. The zero-field thermal conductivities show a remarkable anisotropy for the heat current along the spin-
chain direction (kappa_b) and the vertical direction (kappa_c), implying a magnetic contribution to the heat transport along the spin-chain direction. The magnetic-field-induced change of the spin spectrum has obviously opposite impacts on kappa_b and kappa_c. In particular, kappa_b(H) and kappa_c(H) curves show peak-like increases and dip-like decreases, respectively, at sim 9 T, which is the critical field that minimizes the spin gap. These results indicate a large magnetic thermal transport in this material.
The very-low-temperature thermal conductivity (kappa) is studied for BaCo_2V_2O_8, a quasi-one-dimensional Ising-like antiferromagnet exhibiting an unusual magnetic-field-induced order-to-disorder transition. The nearly isotropic transport in the lon
gitudinal field indicates that the magnetic excitations scatter phonons rather than conduct heat. The field dependence of kappa shows a sudden drop at sim 4 T, where the system unndergoes the transition from the Neel order to the incommensurate state. Another dip at lower field of sim 3 T indicates an unknown magnetic transition, which is likely due to the spin-flop transition. Moreover, the kappa(H) in the transverse field shows a very deep valley-like feature, which moves slightly to higher field and becomes sharper upon lowering the temperature. This indicates a magnetic transition induced by the transverse field, which however is not predicted by the present theories for this low-dimensional spin system.
We report a study of the low-temperature thermal conductivity (kappa) of pure and Zn-doped LiCu_2O_2 single crystals. The kappa(T) of pure LiCu_2O_2 single crystal shows a double-peak behavior, with two peaks locating at 48 K and 14 K, respectively.
The different dependences of the peaks on the Zn concentration indicate that the high-T peak is likely due to the phonon transport while the low-T one is attributed to the magnon transport in the spin spiral ordering state. In addition, the magnetic field can gradually suppress the low-T peak but does not affect the high-T one; this further confirms that the low-T peak is originated from the magnon heat transport.
