Quantum Dynamics in Kagome Ice Ho3Mg2Sb3O14

ORAL

Abstract

A promising route to realize entangled magnetic states combines geometrical frustration with quantum-tunneling effects. Spin-ice materials are canonical examples of frustration, and Ising spins in a transverse magnetic field are the simplest many-body model of quantum tunneling. In this talk, I shall show that the recently discovered tripod kagome lattice material Ho3Mg2Sb3O14 unites an ice-like magnetic degeneracy with quantum-tunneling terms generated by an intrinsic splitting of the Ho3+ ground-state doublet. Using neutron scattering and thermodynamic experiments, we observe a symmetry-breaking transition at T* ~ 0.32 K to a remarkable quantum state with three peculiarities: a macroscopic degeneracy of ice-like microstates; a fragmentation of the spin into periodic and aperiodic components; and persistent spin fluctuations down to 0.12 K. A model incorporating the interplay of frustration and quantum dynamics is necessary to explain our scattering data. Our results establish Ho3Mg2Sb3O14 realizes quantum kagome ice, a frustrated Ising model with an intrinsic homogeneous transverse field.

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Presenters

  • Zhiling Dun

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Physics, Georgia Tech, Georgia Institute of Technology, Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Physics, Georgia Inst of Tech

Authors

  • Zhiling Dun

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Physics, Georgia Tech, Georgia Institute of Technology, Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Physics, Georgia Inst of Tech

  • XIAOJIAN BAI

    Physics, Georgia Inst of Tech

  • Joseph Paddison

    School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, Physics, Georgia Inst of Tech, Physics, University of Cambridge

  • Clarina Dela Cruz

    Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Lab, Neutron scattering devision, Oak Ridge National Lab, Neutron Scattering Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Matthew Stone

    Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge National Laborator, Neutron scattering devision, Oak Ridge National Lab

  • Tao Hong

    Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Neutron scattering devision, Oak Ridge National Lab

  • Nicholas Butch

    NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST Center for Neutron Research, NIST- Natl Inst of Stds & Tech, Center for Neutron Research, NIST -Natl Inst of Stds & Tech, NIST -Natl Inst of Stds & Tech, NIST center for neutron research, NIST

  • Martin Mourigal

    School of Physics, Georgia Inst of Tech, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Physics, Georgia Tech, Georgia Inst of Tech, Georgia Institute of Technology, Physics, Georgia Inst of Tech

  • Haidong Zhou

    Physics and Astronomy, Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville, Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Tennessee, University of Tennessee, Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Physics, University of Tennessee, Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville, Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, knoxville, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee