Neutron scattering investigation of the spin ice state in Dy2Ti2O7

Dy2Ti2O7 has been advanced as an ideal spin ice material. We present a neutron scattering investigation of a single-crystal sample of (Dy2Ti2O7)-Dy-162. The scattering intensity has been mapped in zero applied field in the h,h,l and h,k,0 planes of reciprocal space at temperatures between 0.05 and 20 K. The measured diffuse scattering has been compared with that predicted by the dipolar spin ice model. The comparison is good, except at the Brillouin-zone boundaries where extra scattering appears in the experimental data. It is concluded that the dipolar spin ice model provides a successful basis for understanding Dy2Ti2O7, but that there are issues which remain to be clarified.