Unconventional spin dynamics in the honeycomb-lattice material α-RuCl3: High-field electron spin resonance studies

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • A. N. Ponomaryov - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • E. Schulze - , Chair of Physics of High Magnetic Fields, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • J. Wosnitza - , Chair of Physics of High Magnetic Fields, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • P. Lampen-Kelley - , Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Author)
  • A. Banerjee - , Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Author)
  • J. Q. Yan - , Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Author)
  • C. A. Bridges - , Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Author)
  • D. G. Mandrus - , Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Author)
  • S. E. Nagler - , Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Author)
  • A. K. Kolezhuk - , Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, NASU - Institute of Magnetism of NAS and MES of Ukraine (Author)
  • S. A. Zvyagin - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)

Abstract

We present high-field electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of the honeycomb-lattice material α-RuCl3, a prime candidate to exhibit Kitaev physics. Two modes of antiferromagnetic resonance were detected in the zigzag ordered phase, with magnetic field applied in the ab plane. A very rich excitation spectrum was observed in the field-induced quantum paramagnetic phase. The obtained data are compared with the results of recent numerical calculations, strongly suggesting a very unconventional multiparticle character of the spin dynamics in α-RuCl3. The frequency-field diagram of the lowest-energy ESR mode is found consistent with the behavior of the field-induced energy gap, revealed by thermodynamic measurements.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number241107
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume96
Issue number24
Publication statusPublished - 19 Dec 2017
Peer-reviewedYes