Disorder-induced excitation continuum in a spin- 12 cobaltate on a triangular lattice

Bin Gao, Tong Chen, Chien Lung Huang, Yiming Qiu, Guangyong Xu, Jesse Liebman, Lebing Chen, Matthew B. Stone, Erxi Feng, Huibo Cao, Xiaoping Wang, Xianghan Xu, Sang Wook Cheong, Stephen M. Winter, Pengcheng Dai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A spin-1/2 triangular-lattice antiferromagnet is a prototypical frustrated quantum magnet, which exhibits remarkable quantum many-body effects that arise from the synergy between geometric spin frustration and quantum fluctuations. It can host quantum frustrated magnetic topological phenomena such as quantum spin liquid (QSL) states, highlighted by the presence of fractionalized quasiparticles within a continuum of magnetic excitations. In this work, we use neutron scattering to study CoZnMo3O8, which has a triangular lattice of Jeff=1/2Co2+ ions with octahedral coordination. We found a wave-vector-dependent excitation continuum at low energy that disappears with increasing temperature. Although these excitations are reminiscent of a spin excitation continuum in a QSL state, their presence in CoZnMo3O8 originates from magnetic intersite disorder-induced dynamic spin states with peculiar excitations. Our results, therefore, provide direct experimental evidence for the presence of a disorder-induced spin excitation continuum.

Original languageEnglish
Article number024431
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume108
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023 Jul 1

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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