Field-induced quantum spin disordered state in spin-1/2 honeycomb magnet Na2Co2TeO6

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 5559 - 8
• Main Authors: Lin, Gaoting, Jeong, Jaehong, Kim, Chaebin, Wang, Yao, Huang, Qing, Masuda, Takatsugu, Asai, Shinichiro, Itoh, Shinichi, Günther, Gerrit, Russina, Margarita, Lu, Zhilun, Sheng, Jieming, Wang, Le, Wang, Jiucai, Wang, Guohua, Ren, Qingyong, Xi, Chuanying, Tong, Wei, Ling, Langsheng, Liu, Zhengxin, Wu, Liusuo, Mei, Jiawei, Qu, Zhe, Zhou, Haidong, Wang, Xiaoqun, Park, Je-Geun, Wan, Yuan, Ma, Jie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 21.09.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301/119/2795; 639/301/119/997; 639/766/119/2795; 639/766/119/997; Electron paramagnetic resonance; Electron spin; Electron spin resonance; Heat exchange; Humanities and Social Sciences; Inelastic scattering; Magnetic fields; Magnetism; Magnets; multidisciplinary; Neutron scattering; Neutrons; Resonance scattering; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Spin resonance; Spin-orbit interactions
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25567-7

Spin-orbit coupled honeycomb magnets with the Kitaev interaction have received a lot of attention due to their potential of hosting exotic quantum states including quantum spin liquids. Thus far, the most studied Kitaev systems are 4 d /5 d -based honeycomb magnets. Recent theoretical studies predicted that 3 d -based honeycomb magnets, including Na 2 Co 2 TeO 6 (NCTO), could also be a potential Kitaev system. Here, we have used a combination of heat capacity, magnetization, electron spin resonance measurements alongside inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to study NCTO’s quantum magnetism, and we have found a field-induced spin disordered state in an applied magnetic field range of 7.5 T <  B (⊥ b -axis) < 10.5 T. The INS spectra were also simulated to tentatively extract the exchange interactions. As a 3 d -magnet with a field-induced disordered state on an effective spin-1/2 honeycomb lattice, NCTO expands the Kitaev model to 3 d compounds, promoting further interests on the spin-orbital effect in quantum magnets. The honeycomb lattice with a spin-orbit interaction can give rise to exotic quantum states. With the measurements of bulk properties and inelastic neutron scattering, Lin et al demonstrate the existence of a field induced spin-disordered state in Na 2 Co 2 TeO 6 and extend the Kitaev model to 3 d system.