Unique magnetic transition process demonstrating the effectiveness of bond percolation theory in a quantum magnet

Xu-Guang Zheng (), Ichihiro Yamauchi, Masato Hagihala, Eiji Nishibori, Tatsuya Kawae, Isao Watanabe, Tomoki Uchiyama, Ying Chen and Chao-Nan Xu
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Xu-Guang Zheng: Saga University
Ichihiro Yamauchi: Saga University
Masato Hagihala: Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Eiji Nishibori: University of Tsukuba
Tatsuya Kawae: Kyushu University
Isao Watanabe: RIKEN Nishina Center, RIKEN
Tomoki Uchiyama: Tohoku University
Ying Chen: Tohoku University
Chao-Nan Xu: Tohoku University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Like the crystallization of water to ice, magnetic transition occurs at a critical temperature after the slowing down of dynamically fluctuating short-range correlated spins. Here, we report a unique type of magnetic transition characterized by a linear increase in the volume fraction of unconventional static short-range-ordered spin clusters, which triggered a transition into a long-range order at a threshold fraction perfectly matching the bond percolation theory in a new quantum antiferromagnet of pseudo-trigonal Cu4(OH)6Cl2. Static short-range order appeared in its Kagome lattice plane below ca. 20 K from a pool of coexisting spin liquid, linearly increasing its fraction to 0.492(8), then all Kagome spins transitioned into a stable two-dimensional spin order at TN = 5.5 K. Inspection on the magnetic interactions and quantum magnetism revealed an intrinsic link to the spin liquid material Herbertsmithite, ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2. The unconventional static nature of the short-range order was inferred to be due to a pinning effect by the strongly correlated coexisting spin liquids. This work presents a unique magnetic system to demonstrate a complete bond percolation process toward the critical transition. Meanwhile, the unconventionally developed magnetic order in this chemically clean system should shed new light on spin-liquid physics.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54335-6

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