in the field-induced low temperature states

Magnetocaloric effect, thermal expansion, and magnetostriction measurements on single crystal α-RuCl₃ samples in applied magnetic fields are discussed. α-RuCl₃ has been established as a promising candidate for the sought-after physical realization of the Kitaev model, which describes S=1/2 spins on a honeycomb lattice with bond dependent Ising interactions, hosting Majorana fermions as well as a topological quantum spin liquid (QSL) ground state. Recent experimental data indicate signs of a QSL state that emerges in applied magnetic fields, once the antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition temperature T_N observed in zero field below 7K is suppressed. In order to identify the nature of the phase transitions below T_N and to map the phase diagram as a function of magnetic field, we conducted measurements of the magnetocaloric effect in pulse magnetic fields as well as thermal expansion and magnetostriction measurements in static fields up to 15 T. The results are discussed in the context of possible quantum critical and QSL behavior in α-RuCl₃.