Proximate ferromagnetic state in the Kitaev model material α-RuCl3

H. Suzuki (), H. Liu (), J. Bertinshaw, K. Ueda, H. Kim, S. Laha, D. Weber, Z. Yang, L. Wang, H. Takahashi, K. Fürsich, M. Minola, B. V. Lotsch, B. J. Kim, H. Yavaş, M. Daghofer, J. Chaloupka, G. Khaliullin, H. Gretarsson and B. Keimer ()
Additional contact information
H. Suzuki: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
H. Liu: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
J. Bertinshaw: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
K. Ueda: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
H. Kim: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
S. Laha: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
D. Weber: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
Z. Yang: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
L. Wang: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
H. Takahashi: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
K. Fürsich: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
M. Minola: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
B. V. Lotsch: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
B. J. Kim: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
H. Yavaş: Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY
M. Daghofer: University of Stuttgart
J. Chaloupka: Faculty of Science, Masaryk University
G. Khaliullin: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
H. Gretarsson: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
B. Keimer: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract α-RuCl3 is a major candidate for the realization of the Kitaev quantum spin liquid, but its zigzag antiferromagnetic order at low temperatures indicates deviations from the Kitaev model. We have quantified the spin Hamiltonian of α-RuCl3 by a resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study at the Ru L3 absorption edge. In the paramagnetic state, the quasi-elastic intensity of magnetic excitations has a broad maximum around the zone center without any local maxima at the zigzag magnetic Bragg wavevectors. This finding implies that the zigzag order is fragile and readily destabilized by competing ferromagnetic correlations. The classical ground state of the experimentally determined Hamiltonian is actually ferromagnetic. The zigzag state is stabilized by quantum fluctuations, leaving ferromagnetism – along with the Kitaev spin liquid – as energetically proximate metastable states. The three closely competing states and their collective excitations hold the key to the theoretical understanding of the unusual properties of α-RuCl3 in magnetic fields.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24722-4

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