Chin. Phys. Lett.  2022, Vol. 39 Issue (5): 057501    DOI: 10.1088/0256-307X/39/5/057501
CONDENSED MATTER: ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL, MAGNETIC, AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES |
Neutron Spectroscopy Evidence for a Possible Magnetic-Field-Induced Gapless Quantum-Spin-Liquid Phase in a Kitaev Material $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$
Xiaoxue Zhao1†, Kejing Ran2†, Jinghui Wang2, Song Bao1, Yanyan Shangguan1, Zhentao Huang1, Junbo Liao1, Bo Zhang1, Shufan Cheng1, Hao Xu1, Wei Wang3, Zhao-Yang Dong4, Siqin Meng5,6, Zhilun Lu5,7, Shin-ichiro Yano8, Shun-Li Yu1,9*, Jian-Xin Li1,9*, and Jinsheng Wen1,9*
1National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
2School of Physical Science and Technology and ShanghaiTech Laboratory for Topological Physics, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China
3School of Science, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
4Department of Applied Physics, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
5Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1D-14109 Berlin, Germany
6China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing 102413, China
7School of Engineering and the Built Environment, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, United Kingdom
8National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu 30077, China
9Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
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Xiaoxue Zhao, Kejing Ran, Jinghui Wang et al  2022 Chin. Phys. Lett. 39 057501
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Abstract As one of the most promising Kitaev quantum-spin-liquid (QSL) candidates, $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ has received a great deal of attention. However, its ground state exhibits a long-range zigzag magnetic order, which defies the QSL phase. Nevertheless, the magnetic order is fragile and can be completely suppressed by applying an external magnetic field. Here, we explore the evolution of magnetic excitations of $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ under an in-plane magnetic field, by carrying out inelastic neutron scattering measurements on high-quality single crystals. Under zero field, there exist spin-wave excitations near the $M$ point and a continuum near the $\varGamma$ point, which are believed to be associated with the zigzag magnetic order and fractional excitations of the Kitaev QSL state, respectively. By increasing the magnetic field, the spin-wave excitations gradually give way to the continuous excitations. On the verge of the critical field $\mu_0H_{\rm c}=7.5$ T, the former ones vanish and only the latter ones are left, indicating the emergence of a pure QSL state. By further increasing the field strength, the excitations near the $\varGamma$ point become more intense. By following the gap evolution of the excitations near the $\varGamma$ point, we are able to establish a phase diagram composed of three interesting phases, including a gapped zigzag order phase at low fields, possibly gapless QSL phase near $\mu_0H_{\rm c}$, and gapped partially polarized phase at high fields. These results demonstrate that an in-plane magnetic field can drive $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ into a long-sought QSL state near the critical field.
Received: 03 March 2022      Express Letter Published: 05 April 2022
PACS:  75.10.Kt (Quantum spin liquids, valence bond phases and related phenomena)  
  61.05.fg (Neutron scattering (including small-angle scattering))  
  75.30.Ds (Spin waves)  
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https://cpl.iphy.ac.cn/10.1088/0256-307X/39/5/057501       OR      https://cpl.iphy.ac.cn/Y2022/V39/I5/057501
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Xiaoxue Zhao
Kejing Ran
Jinghui Wang
Song Bao
Yanyan Shangguan
Zhentao Huang
Junbo Liao
Bo Zhang
Shufan Cheng
Hao Xu
Wei Wang
Zhao-Yang Dong
Siqin Meng
Zhilun Lu
Shin-ichiro Yano
Shun-Li Yu
Jian-Xin Li
and Jinsheng Wen
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