Excitations in the field-induced quantum spin liquid state of alpha-RuCl3
File(s)1706.07003v1.pdf (4.1 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The Kitaev model on a honeycomb lattice predicts a paradigmatic quantum spin liquid (QSL) exhibiting Majorana Fermion excitations. The insight that Kitaev physics might be realized in practice has stimulated investigations of candidate materials, recently including alpha-RuCl3. In all the systems studied to date, non-Kitaev interactions induce magnetic order at low temperature. However, in-plane magnetic fields of roughly 8 Tesla suppress the long-range magnetic order in alpha-RuCl3 raising the intriguing possibility of a field-induced QSL exhibiting non-Abelian quasiparticle excitations. Here we present inelastic neutron scattering in alpha-RuCl3 in an applied magnetic field. At a field of 8 Tesla, the spin waves characteristic of the ordered state vanish throughout the Brillouin zone. The remaining single dominant feature of the response is a broad continuum centered at the Gamma point, previously identified as a signature of fractionalized excitations. This provides compelling evidence that a field-induced QSL state has been achieved.
Date Issued
2018-02-20
Date Acceptance
2018-01-08
Citation
NPJ QUANTUM MATERIALS, 2018, 3
ISSN
2397-4648
Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Journal / Book Title
NPJ QUANTUM MATERIALS
Volume
3
Copyright Statement
© The Authors
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000426316500002&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Quantum Science & Technology
Physics
NEUTRON-SCATTERING
ANYONS
COMPUTATION
MAGNET
Notes
32 pages, 7 figures
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 8
Date Publish Online
2018-02-20