Spin Fluctuations in a Magnetically Frustrated MetalLiV2O4

Inelastic neutron scattering is used to characterize spin fluctuations in the $d$-electron heavy fermion spinel ${\mathrm{LiV}}_2\mathrm{O}{}_4$. The spin-relaxation rate, ${\Gamma }_Q$, for $Q=0.6Å{}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ is 1.4(2) meV at low temperatures and increases linearly with temperature at a rate of $0.46\left(8\right)k_B$. There is antiferromagnetic short-range order at low temperatures with a characteristic wave vector $Q_c=0.64\mathrm{}\left(2\right)Å{}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ and a correlation length of $6\left(1\right)Å$. While warming shifts intensity towards lower $Q$, the staggered susceptibility peaks at a finite wave vector for $T<\mathrm{}80\mathrm{K}$. The data are compared with conventional heavy fermion systems, geometrically frustrated insulating magnets, and recent theories for ${\mathrm{LiV}}_2\mathrm{O}{}_4$.