Impurity effect on magnetic and thermal properties of S = 3/2 spin gap system Ba3Ca(Ru1−xNbx)2O9

We have investigated the nonmagnetic impurity effects on magnetic and thermal properties for the spin gap system Ba3CaRu2O9, which has the Ru2O9 dimers composed of two Ru5+ spins (S = 3/2). The measurements of the magnetic susceptibility and specific heat have been carried out for the polycrystalline samples of Ba3Ca(Ru1−xNbx)2O9, where the Ru5+ spins are partially substituted by the non-magnetic Nb5+ ions. We have observed the magnetic behavior of the remained Ru5+ spins derived from breaking the singlet formation by the Nb-doping. These magnetic behaviors can be understood by the S = 3/2 free spin model under an internal magnetic field. Based on the obtained results, the mechanism of the singlet formation of Ba3CaRu2O9 is discussed.