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Correlated states in β-Li2IrO3 driven by applied magnetic fields

Author

Listed:
  • Alejandro Ruiz

    (University of California
    Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Alex Frano

    (University of California
    Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Nicholas P. Breznay

    (University of California
    Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Itamar Kimchi

    (University of California
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Toni Helm

    (University of California
    Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Iain Oswald

    (The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • Julia Y. Chan

    (The University of Texas at Dallas)

  • R. J. Birgeneau

    (University of California
    Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Zahirul Islam

    (Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory)

  • James G. Analytis

    (University of California
    Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Abstract

Magnetic honeycomb iridates are thought to show strongly spin-anisotropic exchange interactions which, when highly frustrated, lead to an exotic state of matter known as the Kitaev quantum spin liquid. However, in all known examples these materials magnetically order at finite temperatures, the scale of which may imply weak frustration. Here we show that the application of a relatively small magnetic field drives the three-dimensional magnet β-Li2IrO3 from its incommensurate ground state into a quantum correlated paramagnet. Interestingly, this paramagnetic state admixes a zig-zag spin mode analogous to the zig-zag order seen in other Mott-Kitaev compounds. The rapid onset of the field-induced correlated state implies the exchange interactions are delicately balanced, leading to strong frustration and a near degeneracy of different ground states.

Suggested Citation

  • Alejandro Ruiz & Alex Frano & Nicholas P. Breznay & Itamar Kimchi & Toni Helm & Iain Oswald & Julia Y. Chan & R. J. Birgeneau & Zahirul Islam & James G. Analytis, 2017. "Correlated states in β-Li2IrO3 driven by applied magnetic fields," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01071-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01071-9
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