Molecular Spin Resonance in the Geometrically Frustrated Magnet MgCr2O4 by Inelastic Neutron Scattering

K. Tomiyasu, H. Suzuki, M. Toki, S. Itoh, M. Matsuura, N. Aso, and K. Yamada
Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 177401 – Published 20 October 2008
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    Abstract

    We measured two magnetic modes with finite and discrete energies in an antiferromagnetic ordered phase of a geometrically frustrated magnet MgCr2O4 by single-crystal inelastic neutron scattering, and clarified the spatial spin correlations of the two levels: one is an antiferromagnetic hexamer and the other is an antiferromagnetic heptamer. Since these correlation types are emblematic of quasielastic scattering with geometric frustration, our results indicate instantaneous suppression of lattice distortion in an ordered phase by spin-lattice coupling, probably also supported by orbital and charge. The common features in the two levels, intermolecular independence and discreteness of energy, suggest that the spin molecules are interpreted as quasiparticles (elementary excitations with energy quantum) of highly frustrated spins, in analogy with the Fermi liquid approximation.

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    • Received 31 March 2008

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.177401

    ©2008 American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    K. Tomiyasu1,*, H. Suzuki2,†, M. Toki3, S. Itoh4, M. Matsuura5, N. Aso5, and K. Yamada1

    • 1WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, and Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
    • 2Department of Applied Physics, School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Ohkubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
    • 3Photon Factory, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Oho 1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0801, Japan
    • 4Neutron Science Laboratory, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Oho 1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0801, Japan
    • 5Neutron Science Laboratory, Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, Shirakata 106-1, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan

    • *tomiyasu@imr.tohoku.ac.jp
    • †Present address: Advanced Research Laboratory, Hitachi Ltd., 7-1-1 Ohmika, Hitachi, Ibaraki 319-1292, Japan.

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    Vol. 101, Iss. 17 — 24 October 2008

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