Metamagnetic transition in BaVS3:: a highly correlated electron system with frustration

BaVS3 has the CsCoCl3-type structure, in which V atoms form linear chains along the c-axis and a triangular lattice in the c plane. This compound exhibits a metal-insulator transition at T-MI = 70 K and an incommensurate antiferromagnetic structure below T-X = 30 K. We performed high-field magnetization measurements up to 95 T using a destructive single-turn coil and found a tiny magnetization jump at around 50 T. The origin of this jump is discussed on the basis of proposed models for BaVS3. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.