Neutron Scattering Study of Kitaev Spin-Liquid Candidate H3LiIr2O6

ORAL

Abstract

A central theme of condensed matter physics in recent years has been the realization of materials that exhibit a quantum spin-liquid state beyond one dimension. The exactly solvable Kitaev model of a quantum spin liquid consists of a 2D honeycomb lattice of Jeff = ½ magnetic ions with bond dependant interactions. NMR and bulk sample characterization has suggested that H3LiIr2O6 could be a spin-liquid [1]. The structure consists of a honeycomb lattice of Ir4+ ions with strong spin-orbit coupling to support the bond dependent exchange interactions required in the Kitaev model. While previous litium irdates have all been found to magnetically order at low temperature, specific heat and magnetization measurements show no order in this material down to low temperature. Using inelastic neutron scattering on SEQUOIA at ORNL, we probed the material magnetic excitations in D37Li193Ir2O6. We describe features in neutron scattering which are consistent with those of a KSL. Through a first moment analysis of the scattering data we determine the range of interactions and an estimate for the ground state energy.
[1]K. Kitagawa, T. Takayama, Y. Matsumotot, A. Kato, R. Takano, Y. Kishimoto, S. Bette, R. Dinnebier, G. Jackeli, H. Takagi, Nature 554, 25482 (2018)

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Presenters

  • Thomas Halloran

    Johns Hopkins University

Authors

  • Thomas Halloran

    Johns Hopkins University

  • Collin Broholm

    Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University, IQM, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University

  • Kemp Plumb

    Physics, Brown University, Brown University

  • Tomohiro Takayama

    Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, University of Tokyo (Japan)

  • Hidenori Takagi

    Department of Advanced Materials, University of Tokyo, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Physics, University of Tokyo, University of Tokyo (Japan)