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Proximate ferromagnetic state in the Kitaev model material α-RuCl3

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [2];  [5];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [6];  [4];  [7];  [8];  [9];  [2];  [10];  [2]
  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart (Germany)
  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart (Germany)
  3. Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart (Germany); Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)
  4. Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart (Germany); Pohang Univ. of Science and Technology (POSTECH) (Korea, Republic of); Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Pohang (Korea, Republic of)
  5. Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart (Germany); Karlsruhe Inst. of Technology (KIT) (Germany)
  6. Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart (Germany); University of Munich (LMU), München (Germany)
  7. Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg (Germany); SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
  8. Univ. of Stuttgart (Germany)
  9. Masaryk University, Brno (Czech Republic)
  10. Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung, Stuttgart (Germany); Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg (Germany)
+ Show Author Affiliations
α-RuCl3 is a major candidate for the realization of the Kitaev quantum spin liquid, but its zigzag antiferromagnetic order at low temperatures indicates deviations from the Kitaev model. We have quantified the spin Hamiltonian of α-RuCl3 by a resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study at the Ru L3 absorption edge. In the paramagnetic state, the quasi-elastic intensity of magnetic excitations has a broad maximum around the zone center without any local maxima at the zigzag magnetic Bragg wavevectors. This finding implies that the zigzag order is fragile and readily destabilized by competing ferromagnetic correlations. The classical ground state of the experimentally determined Hamiltonian is actually ferromagnetic. The zigzag state is stabilized by quantum fluctuations, leaving ferromagnetism – along with the Kitaev spin liquid – as energetically proximate metastable states. The three closely competing states and their collective excitations hold the key to the theoretical understanding of the unusual properties of α-RuCl3 in magnetic fields.
Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; European Research Council (ERC); Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
1819717
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 12; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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