Fingerprinting triangular-lattice antiferromagnet by excitation gaps

Abstract

CeCd3As3 is a rare-earth triangular-lattice antiferromagnet with large inter-layer separation. Our field-dependent heat capacity measurements at dilution fridge temperatures allow us to trace the field-evolution of the spin-excitation gaps throughout the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic regions. The distinct gap evolution places strong constraints on the microscopic pseudo-spin model, which, in return, yields a close quantitative description of the gap behavior. This analysis provides crucial insights into the nature of the magnetic state of CeCd3As3, with a certainty regarding its stripe order and low-energy model parameters that sets a compelling paradigm for exploring and understanding the rapidly growing family of the rare-earth-based triangular-lattice systems.

Possible coexistence of short-range resonating-valence-bond and long-range stripe correlations in the spatially anisotropic triangular-lattice quantum magnet Cu$_2$(OH)$_3$NO$_3$

“…14(b)], and it keeps increasing above T N , in Cu 2 (OH) 3 NO 3 . Similarly, ∆S m (T N ) ∼ 25%Rln2 and 20%Rln2 were reported in the triangular-lattice antiferromagnet CeCd 3 As 3 [51] and the honeycomb Kitaev system α-RuCl 3 [52], respectively. Therefore, ∆S m (T N ) of Cu 2 (OH) 3 NO 3 is comparable to those of many other two-dimensional frustrated compounds, also supporting the presence of spin frustration.…”

The influence of crystalline electric field on the magnetic properties of CeCd3X3 (X = P and As)

“…The low carrier density system YbAl 3 C 3 shows a gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum due to the dimerization of the f electrons in Yb 3+ pairs [14][15][16][17]. Of interest is the easy-plane antiferromagnets CeCd 3 X 3 (X = P and As), a new class of TL system, with a low antiferromagnetic ordering temperature and extremely low carrier density [18][19][20][21][22].…”

“…The family of compounds CeM 3 X 3 (M = Al, Cd, and Zn, X = C, P, and As) have been investigated for their robust ground state properties arising from the interplay between crystalline electric field (CEF) and magnetic exchange interaction on the triangular lattice [16,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. CeCd 3 X 3 materials adopt the hexagonal ScAl 3 C 3type structure (space group P 6 3 /mmc) with the magnetic Ce 3+ ions having a trigonal (D 3d ) point symmetry as shown in Fig.…”

“…CeCd 3 X 3 materials adopt the hexagonal ScAl 3 C 3type structure (space group P 6 3 /mmc) with the magnetic Ce 3+ ions having a trigonal (D 3d ) point symmetry as shown in Fig. 1(c) [20][21][22][23]. In this crystal structure, the Ce layers are well separated by the Cd and X atoms, forming a layered 2D TL in the ab-plane, as depicted in Figs.…”

“…In this crystal structure, the Ce layers are well separated by the Cd and X atoms, forming a layered 2D TL in the ab-plane, as depicted in Figs. 1(a) and (b) [20][21][22][23]. Thermodynamic and transport property measurements have characterized CeCd 3 X 3 as an low carrier density system, with a strong easy plane magnetic anisotropy and antiferromagnetic ordering below T N ∼0.42 K [19,22].…”