Symmetry Reduction in the Quantum Kagome Antiferromagnet Herbertsmithite

Zorko, A.; Herak, M.; Gomilšek, M.; van Tol, J.; Velázquez, M.; Khuntia, P.; Bert, F.; Mendels, P.

Abstract

Employing complementary torque magnetometry and electron spin resonance on single crystals of herbertsmithite, the closest realization to date of a quantum kagome antiferromagnet featuring a spin-liquid ground state, we provide novel insight into different contributions to its magnetism. At low temperatures, two distinct types of defects with different magnetic couplings to the kagome spins are found. Surprisingly, their magnetic response contradicts the threefold symmetry of the ideal kagome lattice, suggesting the presence of a global structural distortion that may be related to the establishment of the spin-liquid ground state.

Citation

Zorko, A., Herak, M., Gomilšek, M., van Tol, J., Velázquez, M., Khuntia, P., …Mendels, P. (2017). Symmetry Reduction in the Quantum Kagome Antiferromagnet Herbertsmithite. Physical Review Letters, 118(1), Article 017202. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.118.017202

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 7, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jan 5, 2017
• Publication Date: Jan 5, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 11, 2018
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Electronic ISSN: 1079-7114
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 118
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 017202
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.118.017202
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1359153
• Related Public URLs: https://arxiv.org/abs/1612.02923