Anisotropy of the magnetic-field-induced phase pocket in the non-Kramers doublet system PrIr$_2$Zn$_{20}$

Abstract

We provide thermodynamic evidence for the presence of a magnetic-field-induced small phase pocket near the antiferro-quadrupole (AFQ) phase boundary in the non-Kramers $\Gamma_3$ doublet system PrIr$_2$Zn$_{20}$. In particular, we measured the specific heat as functions of temperature $T$, magnetic field $B$, and field angle $\phi_B$, and found a second specific-heat anomaly in a relatively wide field-angle range near $B \parallel [001]$, although fine tuning of the field strength is required. We also investigated the rotational magnetocaloric effect and evaluated an entropy change in this phase pocket. The present findings demonstrate that multipole degrees of freedom give rise to a magnetic-field-induced exotic order in PrIr$_2$Zn$_{20}$, suggesting the possibility of switching between the order parameters or emergence of a multiple-$q$ order of quadrupoles.