Lost heat capacity and entropy in the helical magnet MnSi

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Dec 3;105(23):236403. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.236403. Epub 2010 Dec 2.

Abstract

The heat capacity of MnSi at B = 0 and B = 4 T was measured in the temperature range 2.5-100 K. To analyze the data, calculations of the phonon spectrum and phonon density of states in MnSi were performed. The calculated phonon frequencies were confirmed by means of inelastic neutron scattering. The analysis of the data suggests the existence of negative contributions to the heat capacity and entropy of MnSi at T > T(c) that may imply a specific ordering in the spin subsystem in the paramagnetic phase of MnSi.