Ground state order and spin-lattice coupling in tetrahedral spin systems Cu2Te2O5X2

Abstract

High-resolution ac susceptibility and thermal conductivity measurement on Cu2Te2O5X2(X=Br,Cl) single crystals are reported. For Br-sample, sample dependence prevents to distinguish between possibilities of magnetically ordered and spin-singlet ground states. In Cl-sample a three-dimensional transition at 18.5 K is accompanied by almost isotropic behavior of susceptibility and almost switching behavior of thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity studies suggest the presence of a tremendous spin-lattice coupling characterizing Cl- but not Br-sample. Below the transition Cl-sample is in a complex magnetic state involving AF order but also the elements consistent with the presence of a gap in the excitation spectrum.