Non-spin-ice quantum spin liquid (QSL) with Ce-based dipole-octupole doublets Ce2Zr2O7

ORAL

Abstract

The quantum spin liquid (QSL) state, which has no conventional order parameter associated with a broken symmetry, is an exotic state where the spins are highly entangled with one another. Although recent claims on some QSL candidates are under debate due to disorder and spin freezing, we find a non-spin-ice QSL with Ce-based dipole-octupole doublets Ce2Zr2O7. High-quality single crystals of Ce2Zr2O7 are grown by a floating zone method. We confirmed the Kramer doublet ground state in Ce3+ ions from crystal electric field measurements. We revealed that the quasi-elastic structure factor and Pauling entropy is totally suppressed in this system by carrying out diffuse neutron scattering and heat capacity measurements. Our AC magnetic susceptibility and muon-spin relaxation measurements suggest no spin freezing down to 0.02 K. Inelastic neutron scattering experiments display broad excitation continua along Brillouin zone boundaries, indicating fractional spin excitation, which is the key feature of QSL. This, together with the absence of features of spin ice and spin glass, suggest the system is a non-spin-ice QSL state at low temperature, where spins are highly correlated but fluctuate strongly.

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Presenters

  • Bin Gao

    Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University

Authors

  • Bin Gao

    Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University

  • Tong Chen

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University

  • Kalyan Sasmal

    University of California, San Diego, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA

  • Manivannan Nallaiyan

    Quantum Design Inc, San Diego, CA 92121, USA, Quantum Design Inc

  • David W Tam

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University

  • Chien-Lung Huang

    Rice University, Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University

  • Gabriele Sala

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

  • Feng Ye

    Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryOak Ridge, Tennessee 37381, USA, Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN 37831, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Matthew Brandon Stone

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

  • D. T. Adroja

    ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, ISIS Facility, TFC Rutherford-Appleton Laborator, ISIS Facility

  • Christopher Baines

    The Paul Scherrer Institute

  • Joel Barker

    The Paul Scherrer Institute

  • Huibo Cao

    Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Songxue Chi

    Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN 37831, Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Lab

  • Stefano Spagna

    Quantum Design Inc, San Diego, CA 92121, USA, Quantum Design Inc

  • Sang-Wook Cheong

    Rutgers University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics & Astronomy, Rutgers University, Center for Quantum Materials Synthesis and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Department of Physics, Rutgers University, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA, Physics, Rutgers University, Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, New Jersey, Rutgers University, Physics and Astronomy, and Laboratory for Pohang Emergent Materials and Max Plank POSTECH Center for Complex Phase Materials, Pohang University of Science, RCEM, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers U., Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 136 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA, Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials

  • Emilia Morosan

    Rice University, Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University

  • M Brian Maple

    University of California, San Diego, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego, Physics, University of California, San Diego, Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA, Physics, University of California, SanDiego

  • Gang Chen

    Fudan University, Department of Physics, Fudan University

  • Pengcheng Dai

    Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA