Disorder-driven magnetic duality in the spin- system ktenasite,
Phys. Rev. B 113, 094416 – Published 9 March, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/sv92-w3cp
Abstract
Disorder in frustrated quantum systems can critically influence their magnetic ground states and drive exotic correlated behavior. In the system ktenasite, , we show that structural disorder drives an unexpected dimensional crossover and stabilizes a rare coexistence of distinct magnetic states. Neutron diffraction reveals significant Cu/Zn mixing at the Cu2 site, which tunes the sublattice from a two-dimensional scalene-distorted triangular lattice into a one-dimensional spin-chain network. Magnetic susceptibility, neutron diffraction, ac susceptibility, and specific heat measurements collectively indicate magnetic duality: a coexistence of incommensurate long-range magnetic order below K and a cluster spin-glass state with K at Hz. Our findings highlight ktenasite as a rare platform where structural disorder tunes the effective dimensionality and stabilizes coexisting ordered and glassy magnetic phases, offering a unique opportunity to explore the interplay of frustration, disorder, and dimensional crossover in quantum magnets.