Speaker
Description
A quantum spin liquid (QSL) is a long-sought magnetic state in which strong quantum fluctuations prevent magnetic ordering, allowing spin dynamics to persist at very low temperatures. Rare-earth triangular lattice compounds have proven to be a particularly promising platform to study spin liquid behaviours due to their localised f-orbitals and inherent geometric frustration. We present $\mu$SR studies on two such compounds, YbZn$_2$GaO$_5$ and NdMgAl$_{11}$O$_{19}$, both of which exhibit both the absence of magnetic ordering and evidence of persistent dynamics down to milli-Kelvin temperatures, as shown by our $\mu$SR measurements. In YbZn$_2$GaO$_5$, the spin dynamics display a field dependence consistent with a U1A01 Dirac QSL ground state [1]. In NdMgAl$_{11}$O$_{19}$, the strong crystalline anisotropy facilitates the quantum tunneling of Ising spins and AC susceptibility measurements reveal behaviour reminiscent of spin ice pyrochlore compounds [2]. These findings highlight the potential for rare-earth triangular lattices to serve as a versatile platform for realising and studying exotic quantum magnetic states.
[1] H. C. H. Wu, F. L. Pratt, B. M. Huddart, D. Chatterjee, P. A. Goddard, J. Singleton, D. Prabhakaran, S. J. Blundell, arXiv:2502.00130.
[2] J. Snyder, J. S. Slusky, R. J. Cava, and P. Schiffer, Nature 413, 48 (2001).
| hank.wu@physics.ox.ac.uk | |
| Funding Agency | UKRI |
| Did you request an Invitation Letter for a Visitors Visa Application | No |
