Extended Data Figure 9: Subtraction of the nuclear Schottky contribution from the raw specific heat data.
From: A spin–orbital-entangled quantum liquid on a honeycomb lattice
a, Open circles represent the raw specific heat Ctot/T at B = 0, 1 T and 3 T. Filled circles represent the non-nuclear specific heat C/T obtained after subtracting the nuclear contribution CNS/T ∝ T−3 (dashed lines) from Ctot/T. Filled triangles and pluses indicate the non-nuclear C/T obtained directly from a time-domain measurement, either by heating for a short period of 100–200 s and then measuring the short relaxation for a period of 100–200 s (triangles) or by heating for a long period of 1,500–2,500 s and then measuring only the short relaxation for a period of 100–200 s (pluses). The non-nuclear specific heat C/T at B = 3 T obtained by the three different methods agree reasonably well, which strongly supports the validity of our analyses. The CNS/T ∝ T−3 term for B = 0 T is slightly larger than that for B = 1 T. The origin of the extra T−3 contribution observed in the B = 0 data remains elusive. b, Example of the relaxation curve at B = 3 T and T = 124 mK, which indicates the clear separation in the time domain between the fast relaxation due to the non-nuclear contribution and the slow relaxation due to the nuclear contributions. The inset shows the temperature dependence of the slow relaxation time constant at B = 3 T.
