A novel state of matter called a spiral spin liquid can be found in certain materials. The first 2D system to host a spiral spin liquid was found by tracking tiny magnetic moments on the honeycomb lattice.
Future studies of physics phenomena that may drive next- generation information technologies are provided by the discovery. Skyrmions or novel magnetic spin textures that could advance high density data storage are included.
According to the study, materials hosting spiral spin liquids are particularly exciting due to their potential to be used to generate quantum spin liquids.
The honeycomb lattice can hold a spiral spin liquid, which is a novel phase of matter in which spin forms corkscrew-like structures.
There was no experimental evidence of this phase in a 2D system. In a 2D system, interactions are stronger in the planar than in the stacking direction because of the layers.
The theory was proposed more than a decade ago and was identified as a promising platform by Gao. He and co-author Andrew Christianson asked Michael McGuire, who has worked extensively on growing and studying 2D materials, if he would synthesise and characterization a sample of iron trichloride. 2D iron layers can be found in bulk iron trichloride as 2D honeycomb layers. The honeycomb material has been reported to show magnetic behavior at low temperatures.
The chlorine atoms above and below the iron make up the chlorine-iron-chlorine slabs. The chlorine atoms on top of one slab interact weakly with the chlorine atoms on the bottom of the next slab. This weak bonding makes materials like this easy to peel apart. The evolution of quantum physics from three dimensions to two dimensions is something this is useful for.
electron spins can be exotic in quantum materials All react if one spin moves. electron spins constantly change direction, forcing other entangled electrons to fluctuate in response, keeping the system in a state of frustration
Sixty years ago, the first ferric chloride crystals were studied. Magnetic quantum materials can be explored thanks to ORNL's expertise in materials synthesis, image analysis, theory, simulation and computation.
The DOE Office of Science user facilities at ORNL were able to map spin movements in the spiral spin liquid. The success of the experiments could not have been achieved without the co-authors.
There was compelling evidence of a spiral spin liquid phase provided by the neutron scattering data.
Matthew Stone said that the magnetic properties of the sample could be inferred from the measurement of the neutron scattering experiments. The magnetic structure of a spiral spin liquid looked like a map of a group of mountains. All the spins would point in the same direction if you walked along a ring. If you walk outside and cross different rings, you'll see the spins on the axes begin to spin. The spiral is that.
The idea of a spiral spin liquid is viable for the broad class of honeycomb lattice materials according to the study. It gives the community a new way to explore spintextures and novel excitations that may be used in future applications such as quantum computing.
The paper is calledSpiral Spin Liquid on a Honeycomb Lattice.
More information: Shang Gao et al, Spiral Spin Liquid on a Honeycomb Lattice, Physical Review Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.227201 Journal information: Physical Review Letters
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