English

Pressure Effect on the Spin Density Wave Transition in La$_2$PrNi$_2$O$_{6.96}$

Superconductivity 2026-03-11 v1 Strongly Correlated Electrons

Abstract

High-pressure studies reveal a stark contrast between the superconducting properties of double-layer Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) nickelates La2_2PrNi2_2O7_7 and La3_3Ni2_2O7_7. While La2_2PrNi2_2O7_7 exhibits bulk superconductivity, La3_3Ni2_2O7_7 displays filamentary behavior, suggesting that superconductivity is confined to phase interfaces rather than the bulk. Since magnetism emerges near the superconducting phase, understanding its differences in La3_3Ni2_2O7_7 and La2_2PrNi2_2O7_7 is essential for clarifying their underlying electronic and magnetic properties. In this work we study the magnetic responce of La2_2PrNi2_2O6.96_{6.96} under pressures up to 2.3 GPa using the muon-spin rotation/relaxation (μ\muSR) technique. The application of external pressure increases the N\'{e}el temperature TNT_{\rm N} from approximately 161 K at ambient pressure (p=0p=0) to about 170 K at p=2.3p=2.3 GPa. The temperature dependence of the internal magnetic field Bint(T)B_{\rm int}(T) (i.e., the magnetic order parameter) follows the power-law relation Bint=Bint(0)(1[T/TN]α)βB_{\rm int} = B_{\rm int}(0) \left(1 - \left[T/T_{\rm N}\right]^\alpha \right)^\beta, with consistent exponent values of α1.95\alpha\simeq 1.95 and β0.35\beta\simeq 0.35 across different pressures. The value of the ordered moments at the Ni sites, which is proportional to BintB_{\rm int}, remain unaffected by pressure. Our findings suggest that the magnetic properties of double-layer RP nickelate La3_3Ni2_2O7_7 are broadly unaffected by Pr to La substitution.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2503.06560,
  title  = {Pressure Effect on the Spin Density Wave Transition in La$_2$PrNi$_2$O$_{6.96}$},
  author = {Rustem Khasanov and Igor Plokhikh and Thomas J. Hicken and Hubertus Luetkens and Dariusz J. Gawryluk and Zurab Guguchia},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2503.06560},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

7 pages, 3 figures