Proposal for methods to measure the octupole susceptibility

Abstract

Direct means of measuring the susceptibility towards an octupole order parameter are proposed via a sixth-rank tensor property. Equivalent derivatives of more conventionally measured tensor properties, including elastic stiffness, magnetic susceptibility, and elastoresistivity, are written in full, as constrained by the symmetry of the experimentally-motivated $O_h$ point group. For simplicity, we consider the specific case of $Pr^{3+}$ ions in a cubic point symmetry with a $\Gamma_3$ crystal field ground state, but the ideas are somewhat general. Experimental feasibility of measuring these various derivatives of tensor quantities is discussed.