Journal Article

FZJ-2022-00277

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Disorder-induced broadening of the spin waves in the triangular-lattice quantum spin liquid candidate YbZnGaO$_4$

Ma, Z. (Corresponding author) ; Dong, Z.-Y. ; Wang, J. ; Zheng, S. ; Ran, K. ; Bao, S. ; Cai, Z. ; Shangguan, Y. ; Wang, W. ; Boehm, M. ; Steffens, P. ; Regnault, L.-P. ; Wang, X.FZJ* ; Su, Y.FZJ* ; Yu, S.-L. (Corresponding author) ; Liu, J.-M. ; Li, J.-X. (Corresponding author) ; Wen, J. (Corresponding author)

2021
Inst. Woodbury, NY

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/30006  doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.104.224433

Abstract: Disorder is important in the study of quantum spin liquids, but its role on the spin dynamics remains elusive. Here, we explore the disorder effect by investigating the magnetic-field dependence of the low-energy magnetic excitations in a triangular-lattice frustrated magnet YbZnGaO4 with inelastic neutron scattering. With an intermediate field of 2.5 T applied along the c axis, the broad continuum at zero field becomes more smeared both in energy and momentum. With a field up to 10 T, which fully polarizes the magnetic moments, we observe clear spin-wave excitations with a gap of ∼1.4meV comparable to the bandwidth. However, the spectra are significantly broadened. The excitation spectra both at zero and high fields can be reproduced by performing classical Monte Carlo simulations which take into account the disorder effect arising from the random site mixing of nonmagnetic Zn2+ and Ga3+ ions. These results elucidate the critical role of disorder in broadening the magnetic excitation spectra and mimicking the spin-liquid features in frustrated quantum magnets.

Keyword(s): Magnetic Materials (1st) ; Magnetism (2nd)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. JCNS-FRM-II (JCNS-FRM-II)
2. Streumethoden (JCNS-2)
3. JCNS-4 (JCNS-4)
4. Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G4 - Jülich Centre for Neutron Research (JCNS) (FZJ) (POF4-6G4) (POF4-6G4)
2. 632 - Materials – Quantum, Complex and Functional Materials (POF4-632) (POF4-632)

Experiment(s):

1. Measurement at external facility

Appears in the scientific report 2021

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Electronics and Telecommunications Collection ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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