Bond directional anisotropy and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction induced meta-magnetic state in honeycomb lattice magnet Tb₂Ir₃Ga₉

Bond directional anisotropy (BDA), a key element in the Kitaev honeycomb lattice model for j_eff = ½ interacting spin system can enable spin liquid ground state with non-Abelian Majorana fermion as the low energy excitations. In this motif, several insulating materials, such as α-RuCl₃, YbCl₃, and NaIrO₃ are under intense study to observe the quantum entanglement. Recently, Tb₂Ir₃Ga₉ where Tb atoms are arranged in a honeycomb lattice, were shown to exhibit substantial BDA in both in-plane and out of plane directions as well as a finite Dzyaloshinskii-Morya interaction (DMI) in crystallographic c-direction to stabilize the antiferromagnetic ground state. Mediated via RKKY interaction, conduction electron spectra are modified by the magnetism to exhibit step-like magnetoresistance (MR) in the meta-magnetic transition regime. By applying current along the honeycomb lattice plane, signature of multiple thermodynamically equivalent meta-magnetic state can be observed. Detailed MR and Hall effect measurements will be discussed to understand the evolution of magnetic ground state in present of BDA and DMI in the honeycomb lattice arrangement.