Spin fluctuations in a magnetically frustrated metal LiV2O4

Inelastic neutron scattering is used to characterize spin Fluctuations in t he d-electron heavy fermion spinel LiV2O4. The spin-relaxation rate, Gamma (Q), for Q = 0.6 Angstrom (-1) is 1.4(3) meV at low temperatures and increa ses linearly with temperature at a rate of 0.46(8)k(8). There is antiferrom agnetic short-range order at low temperatures with a characteristic wave ve ctor Q(c) = 0.64(2) Angstrom (-1) and a correlation length of 6(1) Angstrom . While warming shifts intensity towards lower Q, the staggered susceptibil ity peaks at a finite wave vector for T < 80 K. The data are compared with conventional heavy fermion systems, geometrically frustrated insulating mag nets, and recent theories for LiV2O4.