CsNiCrF6: using muons to probe multiple Coulomb phases

Coulomb phases emerge from highly frustrated materials, and have the property that local constraints (on, for example, charge states or spin orientations) can be mathematically represented as a divergence-free ‘flux’. CsNiCrF6 is a pyrochlore which has two different B-site ions in different charge states, which contributes to this compound having three different Coulomb phases. This has been measured before with neutrons, but we suspect that muons will form F--mu--F states in these materials, and will be affected by the spin fluctuations in a unique way. This will enable us to uncover more information about the magnetic fluctuations from a local perspective, shining more light on the nature of the Coulomb phases in this material.