Successive Phase Transitions in the Quasi-Kagome Lattice System URhSn Studied by Resonant X-ray Scattering

Abstract

Successive phase transitions in the quasi-kagome compound URhSn were investigated by resonant X-ray scattering (RXS) at the uranium $M_4$ edge. In the high-temperature phase between 16 K and 54 K, an additional RXS signal was detected superposed onto fundamental reflections in both $\pi$-$\sigma'$ and $\pi$-$\pi'$ polarization channels. Upon cooling below 16 K, reported as a ferromagnetic phase along $c$, substantial enhancements were observed again in the both polarization channels at the 300 reflection, demonstrating a simultaneous emergence of in-plane spin alongside the $c$-axis ferromagnetic components. The observed behavior can be interpreted by an antiferro-quadrupole (AFQ) order of $O_{yz}$ or $O_{zx}$ characterized by a propagation vector $q = 0$ in the intermediate phase, which then coexists with a ferromagnetic component below 16 K. The resulting ground state structure breaks the mirror symmetry perpendicular to the kagome plane, identifying the formation of a unique AFQ order with either chirality or polarity in URhSn.