High Field ESR Study of the S=1⁄2 Diamond-Chain Substance Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂ up to the Magnetization Plateau Region

Abstract

High field ESR measurements of Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂ have been performed in the frequency region from 50 to 900 GHz and in the temperature region from 1.8 to 265 K using the pulsed magnetic field up to 36 T. The large g-shifts below 23 K and the characteristic temperature dependence of the linewidth are discussed in connection with the two maxima of magnetic susceptibility observed at 5 and 23 K. Our ESR results together with the magnetization and theoretical results suggest that the ground state of the system is in the spin fluid (SF) phase at low field and low temperature. From the frequency–field dependence measurements at 1.8 K, the direct transition, which is closely related to the magnetization plateau from 16 to 26 T at 1.5 K, is observed for the first time. The observed frequency–field diagram suggests that the exchange interaction in the dimer is estimated to be about 50 K (1057 GHz).