Low energy spin dynamics in the spin ice Ho2Sn2O7

The magnetic properties of Ho(2)Sn(2)O(7) have been investigated and compared to other spin ice compounds. Although the lattice has expanded by 3% relative to the better studied Ho(2)Ti(2)O(7) spin ice, no significant changes were observed in the high temperature properties, T is more or approximately equal to 20 K. As the temperature is lowered and correlations develop, Ho(2)Sn(2)O(7) enters its quantum phase at a slightly higher temperature than Ho(2)Ti(2)O(7) and is more antiferromagnetic in character. Below 80 K a weak inelastic mode associated with the holmium nuclear spin system has been measured. The hyperfine field at the holmium nucleus was found to be ≈700 T.