Spin-lattice decoupling in a triangular-lattice quantum spin liquid

Takayuki Isono (), Shiori Sugiura, Taichi Terashima, Kazuya Miyagawa, Kazushi Kanoda and Shinya Uji ()
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Takayuki Isono: National Institute for Materials Science
Shiori Sugiura: National Institute for Materials Science
Taichi Terashima: National Institute for Materials Science
Kazuya Miyagawa: University of Tokyo
Kazushi Kanoda: University of Tokyo
Shinya Uji: National Institute for Materials Science

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract A quantum spin liquid (QSL) is an exotic state of matter in condensed-matter systems, where the electron spins are strongly correlated, but conventional magnetic orders are suppressed down to zero temperature because of strong quantum fluctuations. One of the most prominent features of a QSL is the presence of fractionalized spin excitations, called spinons. Despite extensive studies, the nature of the spinons is still highly controversial. Here we report magnetocaloric-effect measurements on an organic spin-1/2 triangular-lattice antiferromagnet, showing that electron spins are decoupled from a lattice in a QSL state. The decoupling phenomena support the gapless nature of spin excitations. We further find that as a magnetic field is applied away from a quantum critical point, the number of spin states that interact with lattice vibrations is strongly reduced, leading to weak spin–lattice coupling. The results are compared with a model of a strongly correlated QSL near a quantum critical point.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04005-1

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