Field-induced instability of the quantum spin liquid ground state in the Jeff= 12 triangular-lattice compound NaYbO2

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • K. M. Ranjith - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • D. Dmytriieva - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • S. Khim - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • J. Sichelschmidt - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • S. Luther - , Chair of Physics of High Magnetic Fields, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • D. Ehlers - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Augsburg University (Author)
  • H. Yasuoka - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • J. Wosnitza - , Chair of Physics of High Magnetic Fields, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • A. A. Tsirlin - , Augsburg University (Author)
  • H. Kühne - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • M. Baenitz - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)

Abstract

Polycrystalline samples of NaYbO2 are investigated by bulk magnetization and specific-heat measurements, as well as by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron spin resonance (ESR) as local probes. No signatures of long-range magnetic order are found down to 0.3 K, evidencing a highly frustrated spin-liquid-like ground state in zero field. Above 2 T, signatures of magnetic order are observed in thermodynamic measurements, suggesting the possibility of a field-induced quantum phase transition. The Na23 NMR relaxation rates reveal the absence of magnetic order and persistent fluctuations down to 0.3 K at very low fields and confirm the bulk magnetic order above 2 T. The H-T phase diagram is obtained and discussed along with the existing theoretical concepts for layered spin-12 triangular-lattice antiferromagnets.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number180401
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume99
Issue number18
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2019
Peer-reviewedYes