Competition Between Antiferromagnetism and Ferromagnetism in Sr 2 RuO 4 Probed by Mn and Co Doping
Spin-triplet superconductivity in Sr 2 RuO 4 has attracted enormous interest. Like other unconventional superconductors, superconductivity in Sr 2 RuO 4 is in close proximity to magnetic instability. Undoped Sr 2 RuO 4 exhibits incommensurate antiferromagnetic (AFM) fluctuations, which can evolve into static, short-range AFM order via Ti doping. Moreover, weak ferromagnetic (FM) coupling in Sr 2 RuO 4 has also been suggested by NMR/neutron scattering experiments and studies on Ca 2–x Sr xR uO 4 and Sr 2–y La y RuO 4 , implying orbital dependent magnetism. We report bulk static, short-range FM order in Sr 2 RuO 4 triggered by <2% Co doping, showing superconductivity in Sr 2 RuO 4 is much closer to FM instability than previously reported in Ca 2–x Sr x RuO 4 . We also find Mn doping can effectively establish incommensurate AFM order, with TN ~ 50 K for 3% Mn doping. These new results place Sr 2 RuO 4 in a unique situation where superconductivity lies directly on the borderline of two distinct magnetic states, highlighting the important role of competing magnetic fluctuations in determining superconducting properties of Sr 2 RuO 4 .