Spin-stripe phase in a frustrated zigzag spin-1/2 chain

M. Pregelj (), A. Zorko, O. Zaharko, H. Nojiri, H. Berger, L. C. Chapon and D. Arčon
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M. Pregelj: Jožef Stefan Institute
A. Zorko: Jožef Stefan Institute
O. Zaharko: Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institute
H. Nojiri: Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
H. Berger: Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
L. C. Chapon: Institut Laue-Langevin
D. Arčon: Jožef Stefan Institute

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Motifs of periodic modulations are encountered in a variety of natural systems, where at least two rival states are present. In strongly correlated electron systems, such behaviour has typically been associated with competition between short- and long-range interactions, for example, between exchange and dipole–dipole interactions in the case of ferromagnetic thin films. Here we show that spin-stripe textures may develop also in antiferromagnets, where long-range dipole–dipole magnetic interactions are absent. A comprehensive analysis of magnetic susceptibility, high-field magnetization, specific heat and neutron diffraction measurements unveils β-TeVO4 as a nearly perfect realization of a frustrated (zigzag) ferromagnetic spin-1/2 chain. Notably, a narrow spin-stripe phase develops at elevated magnetic fields due to weak frustrated short-range interchain exchange interactions, possibly assisted by the symmetry-allowed electric polarization. This concept provides an alternative route for the stripe formation in strongly correlated electron systems and may help understanding of other widespread, yet still elusive, stripe-related phenomena.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8255

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