Structural Disorder in the Quantum Spin-Liquid Candidate YbMgGaO4

ORAL

Abstract

The rare-earth oxide YbMgGaO4 is an exciting candidate for a quantum spin-liquid state based on a triangular lattice of Yb3+ ions. Experimental evidence for spin-liquid-like behavior includes a continuous magnetic excitation spectrum and the absence of long-range magnetic order to sub-100mK temperatures. Yet the origin of this behavior remains a subject for debate, with proposals ranging from resonating-valence-bond states and U(1) spin liquids, to disorder-induced mimicry of a quantum spin liquid. Disorder plays an intrinsic role in the structure of YbMgGaO4, because magnetic Yb3+ layers are separated by layers with disordered Mg2+/Ga3+ occupancy. In this talk, I will discuss experimental evidence for the importance of structural disorder in YbMgGaO4. Our X-ray and neutron scattering data reveal that structural disorder is not restricted to random Mg2+/Ga3+ occupancies, but is actually strongly correlated. I will explore the implications of our experimental results for the spin-liquid-like physics of YbMgGaO4.

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Presenters

  • Joseph Paddison

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

Authors

  • Joseph Paddison

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

  • Marcus Daum

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

  • 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

  • Arkadiy Simonov

    Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford

  • Andrew Goodwin

    Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford

  • Amber Thompson

    Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford

  • Matthew Cliffe

    University of Cambridge, Chemistry, University of Cambridge

  • Michael Gaultois

    University of Cambridge, Chemistry, University of Cambridge

  • Helen Playford

    STFC-ISIS

  • Yaohua Liu

    Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Lab

  • 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

  • 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