Spin-liquid-like spin dynamics in the frustrated antiferromagnet
Phys. Rev. B 113, 174406 – Published 14 May, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/bx3h-4g62
Abstract
The synergistic interplay between spin correlations, spin-orbit coupling, and competing exchange interactions provides a promising route to realize exotic quantum states with nontrivial excitations in rare-earth-based frustrated magnets. Here, by using thermodynamic and local-probe measurements down to 16 mK, we demonstrate the exotic magnetism and spin dynamics in the distorted triangular lattice . Thermodynamic experiments reveal the presence of dominant antiferromagnetic exchange and subdominant dipolar interactions. Despite sizable antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the moments, the muon-spin relaxation experiment do not detect any signatures of long-range magnetic order or spin-freezing down to 16 mK, corroborating the specific heat and magnetic susceptibility data down to 45 mK that suggests a persistent spin dynamics in this frustrated triangular lattice. The scaling of muon relaxation rate as a function of the characteristic energy scale for several spin-liquid candidates, including , demonstrates that a common underlying mechanism is at play. The persistent dynamics in this frustrated triangular lattice antiferromagnet is reminiscent of a universal spin-liquid-like spin fluctuations, here attributed to dominant two dimensional (2D) antiferromagnetic short-range spin correlations, confirmed by the presence of a broad magnetic diffuse scattering in the elastic and low-energy inelastic neutron scattering channels at at low temperatures. Our results demonstrate that non-Kramers ion based triangular lattice hosts spin-liquid-like dynamics of local moments arising from the admixture of excited crystal electric field states into the ground state and intertwining of frustration and spin-orbit interaction.
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
- Continuum mechanics
- Crystal-field excitations
- Frustrated magnetism
- Magnetic susceptibility
- Magnetism
- Quantum spin liquid
- Specific heat
- Antiferromagnets
- Honeycomb lattice
- Density functional theory
- Magnetization measurements
- Muon spin relaxation & rotation
- Nuclear magnetic resonance
- Specific heat measurements
- Susceptibility measurements