Neutron Spectroscopy Evidence for a Possible Magnetic-Field-Induced Gapless Quantum-Spin-Liquid Phase in a Kitaev Material $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$

doi:10.1088/0256-307X/39/5/057501

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 Zhao^1†, Kejing Ran^2†, Jinghui Wang², Song Bao¹, Yanyan Shangguan¹, Zhentao Huang¹, Junbo Liao¹, Bo Zhang¹, Shufan Cheng¹, Hao Xu¹, Wei Wang³, Zhao-Yang Dong⁴, Siqin Meng^5,6, Zhilun Lu^5,7, Shin-ichiro Yano⁸, Shun-Li Yu^1,9*, Jian-Xin Li^1,9*, and Jinsheng Wen^1,9*

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

Cite this article:

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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