Field-induced quantum spin disordered state in spin-1/2 honeycomb magnet Na2Co2TeO6

Lin, Gaoting; Jeong, Jaehong; Kim, Chaebin; Wang, Yao; Huang, Qing; Masuda, Takatsugu; Asai, Shinichiro; Itoh, Shinichi; G�nther, Gerrit; Russina, Margarita; Lu, Zhilun; Sheng, Jieming; Wang, Le; Wang, Jiucai; Wang, Guohua; Ren, Qingyong; Xi, Chuanying; Tong, Wei; Ling, Langsheng; Liu, Zhengxin; Wu, Liusuo; Mei, Jiawei; Qu, Zhe; Zhou, Haidong; Wang, Xiaoqun; Park, Je-Geun; Wan, Yuan; Ma, Jie

Abstract

Spin-orbit coupled honeycomb magnets with the Kitaev interaction have received a lot of attention due to their potential of hosting exotic quantum states including quantum spin liquids. Thus far, the most studied Kitaev systems are 4d/5d-based honeycomb magnets. Recent theoretical studies predicted that 3d-based honeycomb magnets, including Na2Co2TeO6 (NCTO), could also be a potential Kitaev system. Here, we have used a combination of heat capacity, magnetization, electron spin resonance measurements alongside inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to study NCTO’s quantum magnetism, and we have found a field-induced spin disordered state in an applied magnetic field range of 7.5 T < B (⊥ b-axis) < 10.5 T. The INS spectra were also simulated to tentatively extract the exchange interactions. As a 3d-magnet with a field-induced disordered state on an effective spin-1/2 honeycomb lattice, NCTO expands the Kitaev model to 3d compounds, promoting further interests on the spin-orbital effect in quantum magnets.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 18, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 21, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 7, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 7, 2021
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 5559 (2021)
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25567-7
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2810553