Pressure-tuning of α-RuCl₃ towards a quantum spin liquid.

ABSTRACT: The layered material α-RuCl₃ is a promising candidate to realize the Kitaev quantum spin liquid (QSL) state. However, at ambient pressure, deviations from the perfect Kitaev geometry prevent the existence of the QSL state at low temperatures. Here we present the discovery of a pressure-induced high-symmetry phase in α-RuCl₃, which creates close to ideal conditions for the emergence of a QSL. Employing a novel approach based on Bragg and diffuse scattering of synchrotron radiation, we reveal a pressure-induced reorganization of the RuCl₃-layers. Most importantly, this reorganization affects the structure of the layers themselves, which acquire a high trigonal symmetry. For this trigonal phase the largest ratio between the Kitaev (K) and the Heisenberg exchan

SUBMITTER: Stahl Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11408671 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature