Possible intermediate quantum spin liquid phase in α-RuCl3 under high magnetic fields up to 100 T
Abstract Pursuing the exotic quantum spin liquid (QSL) state in the Kitaev material α-RuCl3 has intrigued great research interest recently. A fascinating question is on the possible existence of a field-induced QSL phase in this compound. Here we perform high-field magnetization measurements of α-Ru...
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Nature Portfolio
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41232-7 |
| _version_ | 1797558724932403200 |
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| author | Xu-Guang Zhou Han Li Yasuhiro H. Matsuda Akira Matsuo Wei Li Nobuyuki Kurita Gang Su Koichi Kindo Hidekazu Tanaka |
| author_facet | Xu-Guang Zhou Han Li Yasuhiro H. Matsuda Akira Matsuo Wei Li Nobuyuki Kurita Gang Su Koichi Kindo Hidekazu Tanaka |
| author_sort | Xu-Guang Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Pursuing the exotic quantum spin liquid (QSL) state in the Kitaev material α-RuCl3 has intrigued great research interest recently. A fascinating question is on the possible existence of a field-induced QSL phase in this compound. Here we perform high-field magnetization measurements of α-RuCl3 up to 102 T employing the non-destructive and destructive pulsed magnets. Under the out-of-plane field along the c* axis (i.e., perpendicular to the honeycomb plane), two quantum phase transitions are uncovered at respectively 35 T and about 83 T, between which lies an intermediate phase as the predicted QSL. This is in sharp contrast to the case with in-plane fields, where a single transition is found at around 7 T and the intermediate QSL phase is absent instead. By measuring the magnetization data with fields tilted from the c* axis up to 90° (i.e., in-plane direction), we obtain the field-angle phase diagram that contains the zigzag, paramagnetic, and QSL phases. Based on the K-J-Γ- $${{{\Gamma }}}^{{\prime} }$$ Γ ′ model for α-RuCl3 with a large Kitaev term we perform density matrix renormalization group simulations and reproduce the quantum phase diagram in excellent agreement with experiments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:35:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-71602cb110084c6a8088ccec9f9ae496 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:35:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-71602cb110084c6a8088ccec9f9ae4962023-11-20T09:52:10ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-09-011411710.1038/s41467-023-41232-7Possible intermediate quantum spin liquid phase in α-RuCl3 under high magnetic fields up to 100 TXu-Guang Zhou0Han Li1Yasuhiro H. Matsuda2Akira Matsuo3Wei Li4Nobuyuki Kurita5Gang Su6Koichi Kindo7Hidekazu Tanaka8Institute for Solid State Physics, University of TokyoKavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute for Solid State Physics, University of TokyoInstitute for Solid State Physics, University of TokyoPeng Huanwu Collaborative Center for Research and Education & School of Physics, Beihang UniversityDepartment of Physics, Tokyo Institute of TechnologyKavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute for Solid State Physics, University of TokyoDepartment of Physics, Tokyo Institute of TechnologyAbstract Pursuing the exotic quantum spin liquid (QSL) state in the Kitaev material α-RuCl3 has intrigued great research interest recently. A fascinating question is on the possible existence of a field-induced QSL phase in this compound. Here we perform high-field magnetization measurements of α-RuCl3 up to 102 T employing the non-destructive and destructive pulsed magnets. Under the out-of-plane field along the c* axis (i.e., perpendicular to the honeycomb plane), two quantum phase transitions are uncovered at respectively 35 T and about 83 T, between which lies an intermediate phase as the predicted QSL. This is in sharp contrast to the case with in-plane fields, where a single transition is found at around 7 T and the intermediate QSL phase is absent instead. By measuring the magnetization data with fields tilted from the c* axis up to 90° (i.e., in-plane direction), we obtain the field-angle phase diagram that contains the zigzag, paramagnetic, and QSL phases. Based on the K-J-Γ- $${{{\Gamma }}}^{{\prime} }$$ Γ ′ model for α-RuCl3 with a large Kitaev term we perform density matrix renormalization group simulations and reproduce the quantum phase diagram in excellent agreement with experiments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41232-7 |
| spellingShingle | Xu-Guang Zhou Han Li Yasuhiro H. Matsuda Akira Matsuo Wei Li Nobuyuki Kurita Gang Su Koichi Kindo Hidekazu Tanaka Possible intermediate quantum spin liquid phase in α-RuCl3 under high magnetic fields up to 100 T Nature Communications |
| title | Possible intermediate quantum spin liquid phase in α-RuCl3 under high magnetic fields up to 100 T |
| title_full | Possible intermediate quantum spin liquid phase in α-RuCl3 under high magnetic fields up to 100 T |
| title_fullStr | Possible intermediate quantum spin liquid phase in α-RuCl3 under high magnetic fields up to 100 T |
| title_full_unstemmed | Possible intermediate quantum spin liquid phase in α-RuCl3 under high magnetic fields up to 100 T |
| title_short | Possible intermediate quantum spin liquid phase in α-RuCl3 under high magnetic fields up to 100 T |
| title_sort | possible intermediate quantum spin liquid phase in α rucl3 under high magnetic fields up to 100 t |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41232-7 |
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