Structural properties of LaCu6−xAgx have been investigated using neutron and x-ray diffraction, and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) measurements. Diffraction measurements indicate a continuous structural transition from orthorhombic (Pnma) to monoclinic (P21/c) structure. RUS measurements show softening of natural frequencies at the structural transition, consistent with the elastic nature of the structural ground state. The structural transition temperatures in LaCu6−xAgx decrease with Ag composition until the monoclinic phase is completely suppressed at xc = 0.225. All of the evidence is consistent with the presence of an elastic quantum critical point in LaCu6−xAgx.
@article{arxiv.1706.08433,
title = {LaCu$_{6-x}$Ag$_{x}$: A promising host of an elastic quantum critical point},
author = {L. Poudel and C. de la Cruz and M. R. Koehler and M. A. McGuire and V. Keppens and D. Mandrus and A. D. Christianson},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1706.08433},
year = {2017}
}