Local magnetism and spin correlations in the geometrically frustrated cluster magnet LiZn2Mo3O8

Sheckelton, J.P.; Foronda, F.R.; Pan, L.D.; Moir, C.; McDonald, R.D.; Lancaster, T.; Baker, P.J.; Armitage, N.P.; Imai, T.; Blundell, S.J.; McQueen, T.M.

Abstract

LiZn2Mo3O8 has been proposed to contain S=½Mo3O13 magnetic clusters arranged on a triangular lattice with antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor interactions. Here, microwave and terahertz electron spin resonance, Li7 nuclear magnetic resonance, and muon spin rotation spectroscopies are used to characterize the local magnetic properties of LiZn2Mo3O8. These results show the magnetism in LiZn2Mo3O8 arises from a single isotropic S=½electron per cluster and that there is no static long-range magnetic ordering down to T = 0.07 K. Further, there is evidence of gapless spin excitations with spin fluctuations slowing down as the temperature is lowered. These data indicate strong spin correlations, which, together with previous data, suggest a low-temperature resonating valence-bond state in LiZn2Mo3O8.

Citation

Sheckelton, J., Foronda, F., Pan, L., Moir, C., McDonald, R., Lancaster, T., …McQueen, T. (2014). Local magnetism and spin correlations in the geometrically frustrated cluster magnet LiZn2Mo3O8. Physical review B, 89(6), Article 064407. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.89.064407

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 22, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Feb 11, 2014
• Publication Date: Feb 11, 2014
• Deposit Date: May 2, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: May 13, 2014
• Journal: Physical review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
• Print ISSN: 1098-0121
• Electronic ISSN: 1550-235X
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 89
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: 064407
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.89.064407
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1465755