Investigating the coexistence of static order and short-range correlations in an effective spin – ½ system CeVO4 via muon spectroscopy

The interplay of spin-orbit coupling (SOC), crystal field (CF) and inter-electronic correlations in rare-earth based systems leads to effective spin (Jeff) – ½ ground state at low temperatures that offers a platform to realize novel quantum spin liquid (QSL) state. In three-dimensional (3D) systems, the possibility of QSL state becomes rare as most of the systems exhibit long-range ordering and/or spin freezing. However, quantum fluctuations due to Jeff = ½ state gives rise to short-range correlations above the long-range static order persisting to high temperatures. This gives rise to unanswered questions about the possibility of exotic fractional excitations arising due to such intriguing low temperature magnetic state with coexisting spin dynamics. In the context, CeVO4, a 3D spin system which exhibits the signatures of Jeff = ½ state, is of potential interest. Low temperature heat capacity measurements depicts the coexistence of static order and short-range spin correlations. By doing the muon measurements, we want to validate spin dynamics below and above the ordered state. By evaluating the relaxation rate (λ) at different temperatures, we wish to establish the Jeff = ½ state below 50 K and the presence/absence of spin dynamics corresponding to static order and short-range correlations. Further, by doing longitudinal field dependent measurements, we want to evaluate the field dependent λ which will give insight about the onset of long-time spin correlations.