Origin of modulated phases and magnetic hysteresis in TmB₄

We investigate the low temperature magnetic phases in TmB_4, a metallic quantum magnet on the geometrically frustrated Shastry-Sutherland lattice, using co-ordinated experimental and theoretical studies. Our results provide an explanation for the appearance of the intriguing fractional plateau in TmB_4 and accompanying magnetic hysteresis. Together with observation of the bump in the half-plateau, our results support the picture that the magnetization plateau structure in TmB_4 is strongly influenced by the zero-field modulated phases. We present a phenomenological model to explain the appearance of the modulated phases and a microscopic Hamiltonian that captures the complete magnetic behavior of TmB_4.