Integer versus half-integer spin on an approximate honeycomb lattice

V. J. Stewart, J. R. Chamorro, and T. M. McQueen

Phys. Rev. Materials 5, 094401 – Published 7 September 2021

Abstract

Recent interest in honeycomb lattice materials has focused on their potential to host quantum spin liquid (QSL) states. Variations in bond angles and spin allow a range of interesting behaviors on this lattice, from the predicted QSL ground state of the Kitaev model to exotic magnetic orders. Here we report the physical properties of two compounds with rare earths on an approximate honeycomb lattice. The isostructural compounds ${Nd}_{2} S_{5} Sn$ ( $J = \frac{9}{2}$ ) and $\Pr_{2} S_{5} Sn$ ( $J = 4$ ) permit a direct comparison of half-integer versus integer spins on this lattice. We find strikingly different magnetic properties for the two compounds. ${Nd}_{2} S_{5} Sn$ orders antiferromagnetically at $T_{N} \approx 2.5$ K and undergoes several magnetic transitions to other ordered states under applied field. $\Pr_{2} S_{5} Sn$ displays no magnetic ordering transition above $T = 0.41$ K, and may be proximate to a spin liquid state.

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Received 30 March 2021
Revised 15 July 2021
Accepted 13 August 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.5.094401

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Frustrated magnetism Magnetic order Magnetic phase transitions Quantum phase transitions Quantum spin liquid

Honeycomb lattice

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

V. J. Stewart ^1,2, J. R. Chamorro ^1,2, and T. M. McQueen^1,2,3,*

¹Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
²Institute for Quantum Matter, Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
³Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA