The magnetization process of the orthogonal-dimer antiferromagnet SrCu2(BO3)2 is investigated in high magnetic fields of up to 118 T. A 1/2 plateau is clearly observed in the field range 84 to 108 T in addition to 1/8, 1/4 and 1/3 plateaux at lower f
ields. Using a combination of state-of-the-art numerical simulations, the main features of the high-field magnetization, a 1/2 plateau of width 24 T, a 1/3 plateau of width 34 T, and no 2/5 plateau, are shown to agree quantitatively with the Shastry-Sutherland model if the ratio of inter- to intra-dimer exchange interactions J/J=0.63. It is further predicted that the intermediate phase between the 1/3 and 1/2 plateau is not uniform but consists of a 1/3 supersolid followed by a 2/5 supersolid and possibly a domain-wall phase, with a reentrance into the 1/3 supersolid above the 1/2 plateau.
The valence state of Yb ions in beta-YbAlB4 and its polymorph alpha-YbAlB4 has been investigated by using X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy in SPring-8 at temperatures from 2 to 280 K. The observed Yb valence is 2.78 +- 0.01 in beta-YbAlB4 a
t 2 K by using the X-ray emission spectroscopy. The valence is found to gradually increase with increasing temperature toward the trivalent state, and the characteristic temperature of the valence fluctuation is expected to be about 290 K. We also found a small increase in the Yb valence (~0.002) by applying a magnetic field of 32 T at 40 K to beta-YbAlB4.
The valence state of Ce in a canonical heavy fermion compound CeRu2Si2 has been investigated by synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy at 1.8 K in high magnetic fields of up to 40 T. The valence was slightly larger than for the pure trivalent stat
e (Ce3+: f1), as expected in heavy fermion compounds, and it decreased toward the trivalent state as the magnetic field was increased. The field-induced valence reduction indicates that the itinerant character of the 4f electrons in CeRu2Si2 was suppressed by a strong magnetic field. The suppression was gradual and showed characteristic magnetic field dependence, which reflects the metamagnetism around Hm sim 8 T. The itinerant character persisted, even at 40 T (sim 5Hm), suggesting that the Kondo bound state is continuously broken by magnetic fields and that it should completely collapse at fields exceeding 200 T.
X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at the Eu L-edge (2p->5d) in two compounds exhibiting valence fluctuation, namely EuNi2(Si0.18Ge0.82)2 and EuNi2P2, has been investigated at pulsed high magnetic fields of up to 40 T. A distinct XMCD peak corr
esponding to the trivalent state (Eu3+; f6), whose ground state is nonmagnetic (J=0), was observed in addition to the main XMCD peak corresponding to the magnetic (J=7/2) divalent state (Eu2+; f7). This result indicates that the 5d electrons belonging to both valence states are magnetically polarized. It was also found that the ratio P5d(3+)/P5d(2+) between the polarization of 5d electrons (P5d) in the Eu3+ state and that of Eu2+ is ~ 0.1 in EuNi2(Si0.18Ge0.82)2 and ~ 0.3 in EuNi2P2 at magnetic fields where their macroscopic magnetization values are the same. The possible origin of the XMCD of the Eu3+ state and an explanation of the dependence of P5d(3+)/P5d(2+) on the material are discussed in terms of hybridization between the conduction electrons and the f electrons.
Resonant magnetic x-ray diffraction experiments on the Shastry-Sutherland lattice TbB$_4$ were carried out under strong pulsed magnetic fields up to 30 T. TbB$_4$ exhibits a multi-step magnetization process above 16 T when magnetic fields are applied
along the c-axis. We examined the intensity of the 010 magnetic reflection as a function of magnetic field and found that the magnetization plateau phases are accompanied by large XY components of magnetic moments, in contrast to normal fractional magnetization plateau phases. The magnetization was calculated using a simple spin model deduced from the above result. Finally we propose that frustration is the key to understanding the observed multi-step magnetization.
