Continuum of spin excitations in an ordered magnet

Spin excitation continua observed in neutron scattering studies are often considered to be strong evidence of quantum spin liquid formation. In a disorder-free magnetic compound with a quantum spin liquid ground state, the elementary excitation is no longer the conventional spin waves (magnons). Ins...

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Main Authors: Jieming Sheng, Le Wang, Wenrui Jiang, Han Ge, Nan Zhao, Tiantian Li, Maiko Kofu, Dehong Yu, Wei Zhu, Jia-Wei Mei, Zhentao Wang, Liusuo Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:The Innovation
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666675824002078
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author Jieming Sheng
Le Wang
Wenrui Jiang
Han Ge
Nan Zhao
Tiantian Li
Maiko Kofu
Dehong Yu
Wei Zhu
Jia-Wei Mei
Zhentao Wang
Liusuo Wu
author_facet Jieming Sheng
Le Wang
Wenrui Jiang
Han Ge
Nan Zhao
Tiantian Li
Maiko Kofu
Dehong Yu
Wei Zhu
Jia-Wei Mei
Zhentao Wang
Liusuo Wu
author_sort Jieming Sheng
collection DOAJ
description Spin excitation continua observed in neutron scattering studies are often considered to be strong evidence of quantum spin liquid formation. In a disorder-free magnetic compound with a quantum spin liquid ground state, the elementary excitation is no longer the conventional spin waves (magnons). Instead, the magnons fractionalize into spinons, producing a characteristic two-spinon continuum. However, it remained uncertain whether a clean, ordered antiferromagnet could exhibit a continuous spectrum similar to that of a quantum spin liquid. This paper presents evidence of a spin excitation continuum in the magnetically ordered state of Na2BaCo(PO4)2, where free spinons are absent. This challenges the interpretation of such a continuum as a definitive signature of a quantum spin liquid in new material studies.
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spelling doaj-art-485b00cd98924d15bb167e78af3e1e872025-08-20T02:08:27ZengElsevierThe Innovation2666-67582025-04-016410076910.1016/j.xinn.2024.100769Continuum of spin excitations in an ordered magnetJieming Sheng0Le Wang1Wenrui Jiang2Han Ge3Nan Zhao4Tiantian Li5Maiko Kofu6Dehong Yu7Wei Zhu8Jia-Wei Mei9Zhentao Wang10Liusuo Wu11Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; School of Physical Sciences, Great Bay University and Great Bay Institute for Advanced Study, Dongguan 523000, ChinaShenzhen Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; International Quantum Academy, Shenzhen 518048, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Shenzhen Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, ChinaJ-PARC Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1195, JapanAustralian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, AustraliaSchool of Science, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310030, China; Institute of Natural Sciences, Westlake Institute of Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310024, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Shenzhen Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Quantum Functional Materials and Devices, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Corresponding authorCenter for Correlated Matter and School of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Corresponding authorDepartment of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Quantum Functional Materials and Devices, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Corresponding authorSpin excitation continua observed in neutron scattering studies are often considered to be strong evidence of quantum spin liquid formation. In a disorder-free magnetic compound with a quantum spin liquid ground state, the elementary excitation is no longer the conventional spin waves (magnons). Instead, the magnons fractionalize into spinons, producing a characteristic two-spinon continuum. However, it remained uncertain whether a clean, ordered antiferromagnet could exhibit a continuous spectrum similar to that of a quantum spin liquid. This paper presents evidence of a spin excitation continuum in the magnetically ordered state of Na2BaCo(PO4)2, where free spinons are absent. This challenges the interpretation of such a continuum as a definitive signature of a quantum spin liquid in new material studies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666675824002078frustrated magnetsspin excitation continuumquantum spin liquidneutron scattering
spellingShingle Jieming Sheng
Le Wang
Wenrui Jiang
Han Ge
Nan Zhao
Tiantian Li
Maiko Kofu
Dehong Yu
Wei Zhu
Jia-Wei Mei
Zhentao Wang
Liusuo Wu
Continuum of spin excitations in an ordered magnet
The Innovation
frustrated magnets
spin excitation continuum
quantum spin liquid
neutron scattering
title Continuum of spin excitations in an ordered magnet
title_full Continuum of spin excitations in an ordered magnet
title_fullStr Continuum of spin excitations in an ordered magnet
title_full_unstemmed Continuum of spin excitations in an ordered magnet
title_short Continuum of spin excitations in an ordered magnet
title_sort continuum of spin excitations in an ordered magnet
topic frustrated magnets
spin excitation continuum
quantum spin liquid
neutron scattering
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666675824002078
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