Nearest-neighbour resonating valence bonds in YbMgGaO4

Yuesheng Li (), Devashibhai Adroja, David Voneshen, Robert I. Bewley, Qingming Zhang (), Alexander A. Tsirlin and Philipp Gegenwart
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Yuesheng Li: Experimental Physics VI, Center for Electronic Correlations and Magnetism, University of Augsburg
Devashibhai Adroja: ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus
David Voneshen: ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus
Robert I. Bewley: ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus
Qingming Zhang: Renmin University of China
Alexander A. Tsirlin: Experimental Physics VI, Center for Electronic Correlations and Magnetism, University of Augsburg
Philipp Gegenwart: Experimental Physics VI, Center for Electronic Correlations and Magnetism, University of Augsburg

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract Since its proposal by Anderson, resonating valence bonds (RVB) formed by a superposition of fluctuating singlet pairs have been a paradigmatic concept in understanding quantum spin liquids. Here, we show that excitations related to singlet breaking on nearest-neighbour bonds describe the high-energy part of the excitation spectrum in YbMgGaO4, the effective spin-1/2 frustrated antiferromagnet on the triangular lattice, as originally considered by Anderson. By a thorough single-crystal inelastic neutron scattering study, we demonstrate that nearest-neighbour RVB excitations account for the bulk of the spectral weight above 0.5 meV. This renders YbMgGaO4 the first experimental system where putative RVB correlations restricted to nearest neighbours are observed, and poses a fundamental question of how complex interactions on the triangular lattice conspire to form this unique many-body state.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15814

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