Direct measurement of the Bose-Einstein condensation universality class in NiCl2-4SC(NH2)2 at ultralow temperatures

Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Oct 31;101(18):187205. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.187205. Epub 2008 Oct 31.

Abstract

In this work, we demonstrate field-induced Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in the organic compound NiCl2-4SC(NH2)_{2} using ac susceptibility measurements down to 1 mK. The Ni S=1 spins exhibit 3D XY antiferromagnetism between a lower critical field H_{c1} approximately 2 T and a upper critical field H_{c2} approximately 12 T. The results show a power-law temperature dependence of the phase transition line H_{c1}(T)-H_{c1}(0)=aT;{alpha} with alpha=1.47+/-0.10 and H_{c1}(0)=2.053 T, consistent with the 3D BEC universality class. Near H_{c2}, a kink was found in the phase boundary at approximately 150 mK.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.