Structure and magnetic ground states of spin-orbit coupled compound alpha-RuCl3

ORAL

Abstract

The layered material alpha-RuCl3 is composed of stacks of weakly coupled honeycomb lattices of octahedrally coordinated Ru3$+$ ions.~ The Ru ion ground state has 5 d electrons in the low spin state, with spin-orbit coupling very strong compared to other terms in the single ion Hamiltonian.~ The material is therefore an excellent candidate for investigating possible Heisenberg-Kitaev physics.~ In addition, this compound is very amenable to investigation by neutron scattering to explore the magnetic ground state and excitations in detail.~~In this talk, we discuss the synthesis of phase-pure alpha-RuCl3 and the characterization of the magnetization, susceptibility, and heat-capacity. We also report neutron diffraction on both powder and single crystal alpha-RuCl3, identifying the low temperature magnetic order observed in the material.~ The results, when compared to theoretical calculations, shed light on the relative importance of Kitaev and Heisenberg terms in the Hamiltonian.

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Authors

  • Arnab Banerjee

    Quantum Condensed Matter Division, ORNL, USA

  • Craig Bridges

    Chemical Sciences Division, ORNL, USA, CSD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Jiaqiang Yan

    Material Sciences Division, ORNL, USA, MSTD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA

  • David Mandrus

    Department of Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA, Dep. of Mat. Sci. and Eng., U. Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Laboratory / Univ of Tennessee, Department of Materials Science \& Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Matthew Stone

    Quantum Condensed Matter Division, ORNL, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Quantum Condensed Matter Division, ORNL, USA, QCMD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Lab

  • Adam Aczel

    Quantum Condensed Matter Division, ORNL, Quantum Condensed Matter Division, ORNL, USA, QCMD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Ling Li

    Department of Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA

  • Yuen Yiu

    Department of Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA, Dep. of Physics, U. Tennessee

  • Mark Lumsden

    Quantum Condensed Matter Division, ORNL, USA, QCMD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Lab

  • Bryan Chakoumakos

    Quantum Condensed Matter Division, ORNL, USA

  • Alan Tennant

    Neutron Sciences Directorate, ORNL, USA, NScD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

  • Stephen Nagler

    Quantum Condensed Matter Division, ORNL, USA, QCMD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory