High magnetic field lattice length changes in URu2Si2

Abstract

We report high-magnetic-field (up to 45 T) c-axis thermal-expansion and magnetostriction experiments on URu2Si2 single crystals. The sample length change ΔLc(THO)/Lc associated with the transition to the “hidden order” phase becomes increasingly discontinuous as the magnetic field is raised above 25 T. The reentrant ordered phase III is clearly observed in both the thermal expansion ΔLc(T)/Lc and magnetostriction ΔLc(B)/Lc above 36 T, in good agreement with previous results. The sample length is also discontinuous at the boundaries of this phase, mainly at the upper boundary. A change in the sign of the coefficient of thermal expansion αc=1Lc(∂ΔLc∂T) is observed at the metamagnetic transition (BM∼38 T), which is likely related to the existence of a quantum critical end point.