Molecular Quantum Magnetism in ${\mathrm{LiZn}}_{2}{\mathrm{Mo}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{8}$

Molecular Quantum Magnetism in ${LiZn}_{2} {Mo}_{3} O_{8}$

M. Mourigal, W. T. Fuhrman, J. P. Sheckelton, A. Wartelle, J. A. Rodriguez-Rivera, D. L. Abernathy, T. M. McQueen, and C. L. Broholm

Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 027202 – Published 15 January 2014

Abstract

Inelastic neutron scattering at low temperatures $T \leq 30 K$ from a powder of ${LiZn}_{2} {Mo}_{3} O_{8}$ demonstrates this triangular-lattice antiferromagnet hosts collective magnetic excitations from spin- $1 / 2$ ${Mo}_{3} O_{13}$ molecules. Apparently gapless ( $Δ < 0.2 meV$ ) and extending at least up to 2.5 meV, the low-energy magnetic scattering cross section is surprisingly broad in momentum space and involves one-third of the spins present above 100 K. The data are compatible with the presence of valence bonds involving nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor spins forming a disordered or dynamic state.

Received 30 August 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.027202

Authors & Affiliations

M. Mourigal¹, W. T. Fuhrman¹, J. P. Sheckelton^1,2, A. Wartelle^1,3, J. A. Rodriguez-Rivera^4,5, D. L. Abernathy⁶, T. M. McQueen^1,2, and C. L. Broholm^1,4,6

¹Institute for Quantum Matter and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
²Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
³École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 46 Allée d’Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France
⁴NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
⁵Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
⁶Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6475, USA

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Vol. 112, Iss. 2 — 17 January 2014

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Physical Review Letters

Molecular Quantum Magnetism in LiZn2Mo3O8

M. Mourigal, W. T. Fuhrman, J. P. Sheckelton, A. Wartelle, J. A. Rodriguez-Rivera, D. L. Abernathy, T. M. McQueen, and C. L. Broholm

Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 027202 – Published 15 January 2014

Abstract

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Molecular Quantum Magnetism in ${LiZn}_{2} {Mo}_{3} O_{8}$