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Structure of the magnetic excitations in the spin-1/2 triangular-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet Ba3CoSb2O9

Author

Listed:
  • Saya Ito

    (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Oh-okayama)

  • Nobuyuki Kurita

    (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Oh-okayama)

  • Hidekazu Tanaka

    (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Oh-okayama)

  • Seiko Ohira-Kawamura

    (J-PARC Center)

  • Kenji Nakajima

    (J-PARC Center)

  • Shinichi Itoh

    (Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization)

  • Keitaro Kuwahara

    (Ibaraki University)

  • Kazuhisa Kakurai

    (Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society (CROSS))

Abstract

A spin-1/2 triangular-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet (TLHAF) is a prototypical frustrated quantum magnet, which exhibits remarkable quantum many-body effects that arise from the synergy between spin frustration and quantum fluctuation. The ground-state properties of a spin-1/2 TLHAF are theoretically well understood. However, the theoretical consensus regarding the magnetic excitations is limited. The experimental study of the magnetic excitations in spin-1/2 TLHAFs has also been limited. Here we show the structure of magnetic excitations in the spin-1/2 TLHAF Ba3CoSb2O9 investigated by inelastic neutron scattering. Significantly different from theoretical expectations, the excitation spectrum has a three-stage energy structure. The lowest-energy first stage is composed of dispersion branches of single-magnon excitations. The second and third stages are dispersive continua accompanied by a columnar continuum extending above 10 meV, which is six times larger than the exchange interaction J = 1.67 meV. Our results indicate the shortcomings of the current theoretical framework.

Suggested Citation

  • Saya Ito & Nobuyuki Kurita & Hidekazu Tanaka & Seiko Ohira-Kawamura & Kenji Nakajima & Shinichi Itoh & Keitaro Kuwahara & Kazuhisa Kakurai, 2017. "Structure of the magnetic excitations in the spin-1/2 triangular-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet Ba3CoSb2O9," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-00316-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00316-x
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