Origin of the intermediate-temperature magnetic specific heat capacity in the spin-liquid candidate Ca$_{10}$Cr$_7$O$_{28}$

Abstract

We present several approximate calculations of the specific heat capacity of the model for Ca$_{10}$Cr$_7$O$_{28}$ proposed by Balz et al. [Phys. Rev. B 95, 174414 (2017)], using methods including exact diagonalization, Thermal Pure Quantum States, and high-temperature expansions. In none of these cases are we able to reproduce the magnitude of the zero-field specific heat capacity shown in the intermediate-temperature $({\sim}\,5-15\,\rm{K})$ experimental data. We discuss possible reasons for the discrepancy, and what it might tell us about the magnetic Hamiltonian for Ca$_{10}$Cr$_7$O$_{28}$.