Symmetry Reduction in the Quantum Kagome Antiferromagnet Herbertsmithite

Zorko, A.; Herak, M.; Gomilšek, M.; van Tol, J.; Velázquez, M.; Khuntia, P.; Bert, F.; Mendels, P.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.118.017202

Symmetry Reduction in the Quantum Kagome Antiferromagnet Herbertsmithite

Zorko, A.; Herak, M.; Gomilšek, M.; van Tol, J.; Velázquez, M.; Khuntia, P.; Bert, F.; Mendels, P.

Authors

A. Zorko

M. Herak

M. Gomilšek

J. van Tol

M. Velázquez

P. Khuntia

F. Bert

P. Mendels

Abstract

Employing complementary torque magnetometry and electron spin resonance on single crystals of herbertsmithite, the closest realization to date of a quantum kagome antiferromagnet featuring a spin-liquid ground state, we provide novel insight into different contributions to its magnetism. At low temperatures, two distinct types of defects with different magnetic couplings to the kagome spins are found. Surprisingly, their magnetic response contradicts the threefold symmetry of the ideal kagome lattice, suggesting the presence of a global structural distortion that may be related to the establishment of the spin-liquid ground state.

Citation

Zorko, A., Herak, M., Gomilšek, M., van Tol, J., Velázquez, M., Khuntia, P., …Mendels, P. (2017). Symmetry Reduction in the Quantum Kagome Antiferromagnet Herbertsmithite. Physical Review Letters, 118(1), Article 017202. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.118.017202

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Dec 7, 2016
Online Publication Date	Jan 5, 2017
Publication Date	Jan 5, 2017
Deposit Date	May 11, 2018
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Print ISSN	0031-9007
Electronic ISSN	1079-7114
Publisher	American Physical Society
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	118
Issue	1
Article Number	017202
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.118.017202
Public URL	https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1359153
Related Public URLs	https://arxiv.org/abs/1612.02923