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Title: Neutron scattering in the proximate quantum spin liquid α-RuCl 3

Abstract

The Kitaev quantum spin liquid (KQSL) is an exotic emergent state of matter exhibiting Majorana Fermion and gauge flux excitations. The magnetic insulator α-RuCl3 is thought to realize a proximate KQSL. Here, we use neutron scattering on single crystals of α-RuCl3 to reconstruct dynamical correlations in energy-momentum space. We discover highly unusual signals, including a column of scattering over a large energy interval around the Brillouin zone center which is very stable with temperature. This finding is consistent with scattering from the Majorana excitations of a KQSL. Other, more delicate,experimental features can be transparently associated with perturbations to an ideal model. Our results encourage further study of this prototypical material and may open a window into investigating emergent magnetic Majorana fermions in correlated materials.

Authors:
ORCiD logo; ; ; ; ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1434387
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1476432
Grant/Contract Number:  
290202; AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Science
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Science Journal Volume: 356 Journal Issue: 6342; Journal ID: ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher:
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY

Citation Formats

Banerjee, Arnab, Yan, Jiaqiang, Knolle, Johannes, Bridges, Craig A., Stone, Matthew B., Lumsden, Mark D., Mandrus, David G., Tennant, David A., Moessner, Roderich, and Nagler, Stephen E. Neutron scattering in the proximate quantum spin liquid α-RuCl 3. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1126/science.aah6015.
Banerjee, Arnab, Yan, Jiaqiang, Knolle, Johannes, Bridges, Craig A., Stone, Matthew B., Lumsden, Mark D., Mandrus, David G., Tennant, David A., Moessner, Roderich, & Nagler, Stephen E. Neutron scattering in the proximate quantum spin liquid α-RuCl 3. United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aah6015
Banerjee, Arnab, Yan, Jiaqiang, Knolle, Johannes, Bridges, Craig A., Stone, Matthew B., Lumsden, Mark D., Mandrus, David G., Tennant, David A., Moessner, Roderich, and Nagler, Stephen E. Thu . "Neutron scattering in the proximate quantum spin liquid α-RuCl 3". United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aah6015.
@article{osti_1434387,
title = {Neutron scattering in the proximate quantum spin liquid α-RuCl 3},
author = {Banerjee, Arnab and Yan, Jiaqiang and Knolle, Johannes and Bridges, Craig A. and Stone, Matthew B. and Lumsden, Mark D. and Mandrus, David G. and Tennant, David A. and Moessner, Roderich and Nagler, Stephen E.},
abstractNote = {The Kitaev quantum spin liquid (KQSL) is an exotic emergent state of matter exhibiting Majorana Fermion and gauge flux excitations. The magnetic insulator α-RuCl3 is thought to realize a proximate KQSL. Here, we use neutron scattering on single crystals of α-RuCl3 to reconstruct dynamical correlations in energy-momentum space. We discover highly unusual signals, including a column of scattering over a large energy interval around the Brillouin zone center which is very stable with temperature. This finding is consistent with scattering from the Majorana excitations of a KQSL. Other, more delicate,experimental features can be transparently associated with perturbations to an ideal model. Our results encourage further study of this prototypical material and may open a window into investigating emergent magnetic Majorana fermions in correlated materials.},
doi = {10.1126/science.aah6015},
journal = {Science},
number = 6342,
volume = 356,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jun 08 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Thu Jun 08 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aah6015

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Cited by: 375 works
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