Anisotropic phase diagram and spin fluctuations of the hyperkagome magnet Gd3Ga5O12 as revealed by sound velocity measurements

Abstract

Sound velocity and attenuation measurements on the frustrated garnet material Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) are presented as a function of field and temperature, using two different acoustic modes and with two different magnetic field orientations: [100] and [110]. We demonstrate that the phase diagram is highly anisotropic, with two distinct field-induced ordered phases for H||[110] and only one for H||[100]. Extensive lattice softening is found to occur at low fields, which can be associated with spin fluctuations. However, deep within the spin liquid phase a low-temperature stiffening of the lattice and reduced attenuation provides evidence for a spin gap which may be related to short-range antiferromagnetic correlations over minimal 10-spin loops.