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arXiv · 2201.04597

Possible Intermediate Quantum Spin Liquid Phase in $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ under High Magnetic Fields up to 100 T

Xu-Guang Zhou·Han Li·Yasuhiro H. Matsuda·Akira Matsuo·Wei Li·Nobuyuki Kurita·Gang Su·Koichi Kindo·Hidekazu Tanaka
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Abstract

Pursuing the exotic quantum spin liquid (QSL) state in the Kitaev material $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ has intrigued great research interest recently. A fascinating question is on the possible existence of field-induced QSL phase in this compound. Here we perform a high-field measurement of the magnetization process of $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ up to 102 T employing the non-destructive and destructive pulsed magnets. Under the out-of-plane field along the c$^*$ axis (i.e., perpendicular to the honeycomb plane), two quantum phase transitions are uncovered at respectively 36 T and about 83 T, between which there lies an intermediate phase as the predicted QSL. By measuring the magnetization data with fields tilted from the c$^*$ axis up to $90^\circ$ (i.e., in-plane direction), we obtain the field-angle phase diagram that contains the zigzag, paramagnetic, and QSL phases. Based on the accurate $K$-$J$-$\Gamma$-$\Gamma^{\prime}$ model of $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$, we perform density matrix renormalization group simulations and reproduce the quantum phase diagram in excellent agreement with experiments.

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Xu-Guang Zhou, Han Li, Yasuhiro H. Matsuda, Akira Matsuo, Wei Li, Nobuyuki Kurita, Gang Su, Koichi Kindo, Hidekazu Tanaka. 2022-01-12. Possible Intermediate Quantum Spin Liquid Phase in $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ under High Magnetic Fields up to 100 T. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41232-7

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