Understanding the magnetic interactions of the zig-zag honeycomb lattice: Application to RuCl₃

In this talk, we investigate the effects of variable exchange interactions on the spin dynamics of the zig-zag honeycomb lattice. Using a Holstein-Primakoff expansion of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian with easy-axis anisotropy, we characterize the effects of multiple nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor interactions with the context of a frustrated and non-frustrated zig-zag magnetic configuration. Furthermore, we compare to the known inelastic neutron scattering data for RuCl₃ and we provide insight into the evolution of the spin dynamics. By analyzing the frustrated system with multiple interactions, we are able to demonstrate that a standard Heisenberg model can produce an accurate model of the observed spin-waves.