Quantum materials exhibiting magnetic frustration are connected to diverse phenomena, including high T_c superconductivity, topological order, and quantum spin liquids (QSLs). A QSL is a quantum phase (QP) related to a quantum-entangled fluid-like state of matter. Previous experiments on QSL candidate materials are usually interpreted in terms of a single QP, although theories indicate that many distinct QPs are closely competing in typical frustrated spin models. Here we report on combined temperature-dependent muon spin relaxation and specific heat measurements for the triangular-lattice QSL candidate material 1T-TaS₂ that provide evidence for competing QPs. The measured properties are assigned to arrays of individual QSL layers within the layered charge density wave structure of 1T-TaS₂ and their characteristic parameters can be interpreted as those of distinct Z₂ QSL phases. The present results reveal that a QSL description can extend beyond the lowest temperatures, offering an additional perspective in the search for such materials.

表现出磁性受阻的量子材料与多种现象有关，包括高T _c超导性、拓扑序和量子自旋液体 (QSL)。QSL 是与量子纠缠流体状物质状态相关的量子相 (QP)。先前关于 QSL 候选材料的实验通常被解释为单个 QP，尽管理论表明许多不同的 QP 在典型的受挫自旋模型中密切竞争。在这里，我们报告了三角晶格 QSL 候选材料 1T-TaS _{2 的}温度相关 μ​​ 子自旋弛豫和比热的组合测量为竞争 QP 提供证据。测量的特性被分配给 1T-TaS ₂的分层电荷密度波结构内的单个 QSL 层的阵列，并且它们的特征参数可以解释为不同Z ₂ QSL 相的那些。目前的结果表明，QSL 描述可以扩展到最低温度之外，为寻找此类材料提供了额外的视角。