Fractional excitations in the square lattice quantum antiferromagnet

Nature Physics
B Dalla PiazzaH M Rønnow

Abstract

Quantum magnets have occupied the fertile ground between many-body theory and low-temperature experiments on real materials since the early days of quantum mechanics. However, our understanding of even deceptively simple systems of interacting spins-1/2 is far from complete. The quantum square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet (QSLHAF), for example, exhibits a striking anomaly of hitherto unknown origin in its magnetic excitation spectrum. This quantum effect manifests itself for excitations propagating with the specific wave vector (π, 0). We use polarized neutron spectroscopy to fully characterize the magnetic fluctuations in the metal-organic compound CFTD, a known realization of the QSLHAF model. Our experiments reveal an isotropic excitation continuum at the anomaly, which we analyse theoretically using Gutzwiller-projected trial wavefunctions. The excitation continuum is accounted for by the existence of spatially-extended pairs of fractional S=1/2 quasiparticles, 2D analogues of 1D spinons. Away from the anomalous wave vector, these fractional excitations are bound and form conventional magnons. Our results establish the existence of fractional quasiparticles in the high-energy spectrum of a quasi-two-dimensional antife...Continue Reading

References

Apr 1, 1988·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·J D Reger, A P Young
Jul 1, 1988·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·C Gros
Nov 1, 1995·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·D A TennantA M Tsvelik
Dec 1, 1995·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·R R Singh, M P Gelfand
Dec 1, 1989·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·Z Liu, E Manousakis
Jun 1, 1990·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·T C Hsu
Mar 1, 1990·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·N Trivedi, D M Ceperley
Sep 1, 1992·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·C J HamerP Arndt
Aug 1, 1993·Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter·C M Canali, M Wallin
Aug 1, 1988·Physical Review Letters·A Auerbach, D P Arovas
Jan 15, 1996·Physical Review Letters·X G Wen, P A Lee
Nov 4, 1996·Physical Review Letters·C KimS Maekawa
Feb 15, 2001·Physical Review Letters·R ColdeaZ Tylczynski
Jun 1, 2001·Physical Review Letters·R ColdeaZ Fisk
Sep 22, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·N B ChristensenG Aeppli
Mar 12, 2010·Nature·Leon Balents
Sep 28, 2010·Physical Review Letters·M EnderleW Assmus
Mar 12, 2011·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·A V Syromyatnikov
Apr 15, 2011·Nature·Jonathan SimonMarkus Greiner
Dec 21, 2011·Physical Review Letters·M JeongA Harrison
Jun 12, 2013·Physical Review Letters·Ying Tang, Anders W Sandvik

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 3, 2016·The Review of Scientific Instruments·Felix GroitlHenrik M Rønnow
Dec 30, 2017·Physical Review Letters·Kai YangChristopher P Lutz
Nov 14, 2018·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Atanu Maity, Saptarshi Mandal
Jul 16, 2017·Physical Review. E·Junya OtsukiKazuyoshi Yoshimi
Feb 6, 2020·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Yuesheng LiAlexander A Tsirlin
Feb 13, 2020·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Wenjie WanHenrik M R Ronnow
Sep 17, 2016·Physical Review Letters·H GretarssonB J Kim
Oct 28, 2017·Physical Review Letters·Matthias GohlkeFrank Pollmann
Apr 1, 2019·The Review of Scientific Instruments·R A EwingsR C Riehl-Shaw
May 8, 2016·Physical Review Letters·Morten H ChristensenBrian M Andersen
Feb 14, 2021·Nature Communications·Kai YangChristopher P Lutz
Jan 30, 2021·Physical Review Letters·A BohrdtF Grusdt
Feb 6, 2021·Physical Review Letters·Alexander Mitrofanov, Sergei Urazhdin
Jul 31, 2021·Physical Review Letters·Pontus LaurellGonzalo Alvarez
Jun 29, 2021·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Qiu Zhang, Tao Li
Feb 2, 2018·Inorganic Chemistry·Mariusz KubusKarl W Krämer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
X-ray
polarized neutron scattering

Software Mentioned

CFTD
SWT

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.