Quasispin Glass in a Geometrically Frustrated Magnet

Abstract

The spin glass state in the spinel ZnCr2(1-x)Ga 2xO4 is studied with magnetization and specific heat for x<0.05. The freezing temperature is independent of disorder, despite a two-level-like density of states that varies linearly with x. This relationship implies the energy scale for freezing is independent of disorder, in contrast to mean field theories of spin glass. We suggest that the degrees of freedom are shielded spin vacancies, quasispins, which interact via an emergent long-range force mediated by the frustrated spin background. © 2013 American Physical Society.