1. Magnetic structure and Ising-like antiferromagnetism in the bilayer triangular lattice compound NdZnPO
- Author
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Ge, Han, Li, Tiantian, Nikitin, S. E., Zhao, Nan, Li, Fangli, Bu, Huanpeng, Yuan, Jiayue, Chen, Jian, Fu, Ying, Yang, Jiong, Wang, Le, Miao, Ping, Zhang, Qiang, Puente-Orench, Ines, Podlesnyak, Andrey, Sheng, Jieming, and Wu, Liusuo
- Subjects
Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons ,Condensed Matter - Materials Science - 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., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures
- Published
- 2024