An effective spin Hamiltonian approach to heavy electron metamagnetism

ABSTRACT

We describe a minimal model for metamagnetism, based on a quantum spin Hamiltonian with a single energy scale. Within this model, the metamagnetic critical field is proportional to the temperature where a peak in the linear susceptibility occurs which in turn is proportional to the temperatures where the nonlinear susceptibilities also peak. The thermodynamic properties are derived in a straightforward manner and bear a striking resemblance to observations in such strongly correlated systems as heavy fermion materials. We also consider extensions of the model by including effects such as a mean field and a tilt of the quantisation axis to encompass observed deviations from a minimal metamagnetic behaviour.