Evidences for magnetic dimers and skyrmion lattice formation in Eu$_2$Pd$_2$Sn

Abstract

Magnetic, thermal and transport properties of the non-centrosymmetric compound Eu$_2$Pd$_2$Sn are revisited after including new measurements. In its paramagnetic phase, the outstanding feature of this compound is the formation of Eu$^{2+}$ dimers that allows to understand the deviation of the magnetic susceptibility $\chi(T)$ from the C-W law below about 70\,K, the field dependent magnetization $M(B)$ variation below $\approx 80$\,K and the reduced entropy at the ordering temperature $S(T_N)= 0.64R\ln(8)$. A significant change of the exchange interactions occurs between $T\approx 70$\,K (where $\theta_P = 18$\,K) and $T_N = 13.3$\,K (where $\theta_P =-4.5$\,K). The strong electronic overlap, arising from the reduced Eu-Eu spacing compared with that of pure Eu$^{2+}$ is expected to power these quasiparticles formation, inducing a significant reformulation of the magnetic structure. A rich magnetic phase diagram is obtained from the analysis of the derivatives of the magnetic parameters: $\partial \chi/\partial T$ and $\partial M/\partial B$, and the field dependence of the specific heat. Two critical points are recognized and a tentative description of the magnetic structures is proposed. The possible formation of a skyrmion lattice, that arises from the presence of magnetically frustrated pockets in the phase diagram, is suggested by theoretical studies on hexagonal structures exhibiting similar interactions pattern.