Nonmagnetic-magnetic transition and magnetically ordered structure in SmS

SmS, a prototypical intermediate valence compound, has been studied by performing high-pressure nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on a S-33-enriched sample. The observation of an additional signal below 15-20 K above a nonmagnetic-magnetic transition pressure P-c2 approximate to 2 GPa gives evidence of a magnetic transition. The absence of a Curie term in the Knight shift near P-c2 indicates that the localized character of 4f electrons is entirely screened and the mechanism of the magnetic ordering is not described within a simple localized model. Simultaneously, the line shape in the magnetically ordered state is incompatible with a spin density wave order. These suggest that the magnetic order in SmS may require an understanding beyond the conventional framework for heavy fermions. The fact that hyperfine fields from the ordered moments cancel out at the S site leads us to a conclusion that the ordered phase has a type II antiferromagnetic structure.

Automated summary

High-pressure nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on a S-33-enriched sample of the prototypical intermediate valence compound SmS revealed evidence of a magnetic transition. The absence of a Curie term suggests that the mechanism of the magnetic ordering is not described within a simple localized model, and the line shape in the magnetically ordered state does not fit a spin density wave order. This indicates that the magnetic order in SmS may require an understanding beyond the conventional framework for heavy fermions.