Two-step magnetic ordering in quasi-one-dimensional helimagnets: possible experimental validation of Villain's conjecture about a chiral spin liquid phase

Abstract:Low-temperature specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, and zero-field muon spin resonance (SR) measurements have been performed in the quasi-one-dimensional molecular helimagnetic compound Gdhfac3NITEt. The specific heat presents two anomalies at T02:190:02K and TN 1:880:02K, which both disappear upon the application of a weak magnetic field. Conversely, magnetic susceptibility and SR data show the divergence of two-spin correlation functions only at TN 1:88 0:02 K. These results suggest an experimental validation of Villain’s conjecture of a two-step magnetic ordering in quasione- dimensional XY helimagnets; i.e., the paramagnetic phase and the helical spin solid phase are separated by a chiral spin liquid phase, where translational invariance is broken without violation of rotational invariance.