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Compass-model physics on the hyperhoneycomb lattice in the extreme spin-orbit regime

Abstract:
The physics of spin-orbit entangled magnetic moments of 4d and 5d transition metal ions on a honeycomb lattice has been much explored in search for unconventional magnetic orders or quantum spin liquids expected for compass spin models, where different bonds in the lattice favour different orientations for the magnetic moments. Realizing such physics with rare-earth ions is a promising route to achieve exotic ground states in the extreme spin orbit limit, however this regime has remained experimentally largely unexplored due to major challenges in materials synthesis. Here we report successful synthesis of powders and single crystals of β-Na2PrO3, with Pr^{4+} j_eff = 1/2 magnetic moments arranged on a hyperhoneycomb lattice with the same threefold coordination as the planar honeycomb. We find a strongly noncollinear magnetic order with highly dispersive gapped excitations that we argue arise from frustration between bond-dependent, anisotropic off-diagonal exchanges, a compass quantum spin model not explored experimentally so far. Our results show that rare-earth ions on threefold coordinated lattices offer a platform for the exploration of quantum compass spin models in the extreme spin orbit regime, with qualitatively distinct physics from that of 4d and 5d Kitaev materials.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41467-024-53345-8

Authors


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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-4231-3190
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Role:
Author


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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/0472cxd90
Grant:
788814


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Nature Communications More from this journal
Volume:
15
Issue:
1
Article number:
10615
Publication date:
2024-12-06
Acceptance date:
2024-10-10
DOI:
EISSN:
2041-1723


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
2038786
Local pid:
pubs:2038786
Deposit date:
2024-10-15

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