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arXiv · 2401.13318

Magnetic structure and Ising-like antiferromagnetism in the bilayer triangular lattice compound NdZnPO

Abstract

The complex interplay of spin frustration and quantum fluctuations in low-dimensional quantum materials leads to a variety of intriguing phenomena. This research focuses on a detailed analysis of the magnetic behavior exhibited by NdZnPO, a bilayer spin-1/2 triangular lattice antiferromagnet. The investigation employs magnetization, specific heat, and powder neutron scattering measurements. At zero field, a long-range magnetic order is observed at $T_{\rm N}=1.64~\rm K$. Powder neutron diffraction experiments show the Ising-like magnetic moments along the $c$-axis, revealing a stripe-like magnetic structure with three equivalent magnetic propagation vectors. Application of a magnetic field along the $c$-axis suppresses the antiferromagnetic order, leading to a fully polarized ferromagnetic state above $B_{\rm c}=4.5~\rm T$. This transition is accompanied by notable enhancements in the nuclear Schottky contribution. Moreover, the absence of spin frustration and expected field-induced plateau-like phases are remarkable observations. Detailed calculations of magnetic dipolar interactions revealed complex couplings reminiscent of a honeycomb lattice, suggesting the potential emergence of Kitaev-like physics within this system. This comprehensive study of the magnetic properties of NdZnPO highlights unresolved intricacies, underscoring the imperative for further exploration to unveil the underlying governing mechanisms.

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Han Ge, Tiantian Li, S. E. Nikitin, Nan Zhao, Fangli Li, Huanpeng Bu, Jiayue Yuan, Jian Chen, Ying Fu, Jiong Yang, Le Wang, Ping Miao, Qiang Zhang, Ines Puente-Orench, Andrey Podlesnyak, Jieming Sheng, Liusuo Wu. 2024-01-24. Magnetic structure and Ising-like antiferromagnetism in the bilayer triangular lattice compound NdZnPO. https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.13318

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