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Title: Dynamic Spin Correlations in the Honeycomb Lattice Na 2 IrO 3 Measured by Resonant Inelastic x-Ray Scattering

Journal Article · · Physical Review. X

Kitaev quantum spin liquid is a prime example of novel quantum magnetism of spin-orbit entangled pseudospin-1/2 moments in a honeycomb lattice. Most candidate materials such as Na2IrO3 have many competing exchange interactions beyond the minimal Kitaev-Heisenberg model whose small variations in the strength of the interactions produce huge differences in low energy dynamics. An incomplete knowledge of dynamic spin correlations hampers identification of a minimal model and quantification of the proximity to the Kitaev quantum spin-liquid phase. Here, we report fully momentum- and energy-resolved magnetic excitation spectra in a honeycomb lattice Na2IrO3 measured using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering. The state-of-the-art 10 meV energy resolution spectrometer resolves a low energy quasiparticle peak but reveals that the dynamic response lacks a resolution-limited coherent spin waves in most part of the Brillouin zone. Dynamical structure factors were calculated using exact diagonalization method on finite-size clusters. The effective spin Hamiltonian contains six parameters including all symmetry-allowed nearest neighbor interactions and long-range Heisenberg interactions. Our results confine a parameter regime in which the spin Hamiltonian reasonably reproduces the measured magnetic excitation spectra in terms of spectral width and energy. A hidden Kitaev quantum spin liquid and Heisenberg phases found in the complex parameter space are used as a reference to determine the Kitaev-like or magnon-like nature of the spin excitations. Magnetic excitation spectra were taken at elevated temperatures to follow temperature evolution of the RIXS dynamic response in the paramagnetic state. Whereas the low energy excitation progressively diminishes as the zigzag order disappears, the broad high energy excitation maintains its spectral weight up to much higher temperature of 160 K and diminishes only above 200 K. Finally, we discuss our results in the context of a frustrated magnet proximate to the Kitaev quantum spin liquid.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); Czech Science Foundation (GA CR)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1618387
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1618448
Journal Information:
Physical Review. X, Journal Name: Physical Review. X Vol. 10 Journal Issue: 2; ISSN 2160-3308
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 24 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Figures / Tables (9)