Interplay between phase defects and spin polarization in the specific heat of the spin-density-wave compound (TMTTF)2Br in a magnetic field

Equilibrium heat relaxation experiments provide evidence that the ground state of the commensurate spin-density-wave compound (TMTTF)2Br after the application of a sufficient magnetic field is different from the conventional ground state. The experiments are interpreted on the basis of the local model of strong pinning as the deconfinement of soliton-antisoliton pairs triggered by the Zeeman coupling to spin degrees of freedom, resulting in a magnetic-field-induced density-wave glass for the spin carrying the phase configuration.