Possible coexistence of short-range resonating valence bond and long-range stripe correlations in the spatially anisotropic triangular-lattice quantum magnet Cu2(OH)3NO3

Long Yuan, Yuqian Zhao, Boqiang Li, Yiru Song, Yuanhua Xia, Benqiong Liu, Junfeng Wang, and Yuesheng Li
Phys. Rev. B 106, 085119 – Published 11 August 2022

Abstract

We show that short-range resonating valence bond correlations and long-range order can coexist in the ground state (GS) of a frustrated spin system. Our study comprises a comprehensive investigation of the quantum magnetism on the structurally disorder-free single crystal of Cu2(OH)3NO3, which realizes the s = 1/2 Heisenberg model on a spatially anisotropic triangular lattice. Competing exchange interactions determined by fitting the magnetization measured up to 55 T give rise to an exotic GS wave function with the coexistence of the dominant short-range resonating valence bond correlations and weak long-range stripe order (ordered moment M0=|siz|0.02). At low temperatures, a first-order spin-flop transition is visible at 1–3 T. As the applied field further increases, another two magnetic field induced quantum phase transitions are observed at 14–19 and 46–52 T, respectively. Simulations of the Heisenberg exchange model show semiquantitative agreement with the magnetic-field modulation of these unconventional phases, as well as the absence of visible magnetic reflections in neutron diffraction, thus supporting the GS of the spin system of Cu2(OH)3NO3 may be approximate to a quantum spin liquid. Our study establishes structurally disorder-free magnetic materials with spatially anisotropic exchange interactions as a possible arena for spin liquids.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
7 More
  • Received 30 March 2022
  • Revised 25 July 2022
  • Accepted 29 July 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.106.085119

©2022 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Long Yuan1,*, Yuqian Zhao1,*, Boqiang Li1,*, Yiru Song1,*, Yuanhua Xia2, Benqiong Liu2, Junfeng Wang1,†, and Yuesheng Li1,‡

  • 1Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, China
  • 2Key Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621999, People's Republic of China

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • jfwang@hust.edu.cn
  • yuesheng_li@hust.edu.cn

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 106, Iss. 8 — 15 August 2022

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×