Ruthenium Substitution in Beta-Lithium Iridate

ORAL

Abstract

In the Kitaev model, orthogonal bond-directional exchange interactions have been proposed to give rise to quantum spin liquid ground state with fractional Majorana excitations. However, the candidate honeycomb materials described by this model order at low temperatures. Nonetheless, external perturbations, such as applied magnetic field, pressure, and chemical substitution, have been shown to change the strengths of the magnetic interactions and alter their ground state. Additionally, recent work in beta-lithium iridate has shown a hidden magnetic anomaly at T~100K which may be connected to the Kitaev-like behavior in the material. In this work, we present thermodynamic, resonant X-ray diffraction, and muon spin relaxation studies on ruthenium-doped beta-lithium iridate (β-Li2RuxIr1-xO3). We describe how the addition of magnetic impurities on the iridium sites suppresses the incommensurate phase and gives rise to an anisotropic spin glass. Additionally, we discuss the impact that these impurities have on the high-temperature phase.

*The authors would like to acknowledge UC LEADs and the UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.

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Presenters

  • Mayia Vranas

    • University of California, Berkeley

Authors

  • Mayia Vranas

    • University of California, Berkeley

  • Alejandro Ruiz

    • Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego
    • University of California, San Diego
    • Physics, Univ of California - San Diego

  • Benjamin Frandsen

    • Brigham Young University
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University
    • Brigham Young Univ - Provo
    • Physics, Brigham Young University
    • Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University

  • Arani Acharya

    • University of California, Berkeley

  • Vikram Nagarajan

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • Argonne National Lab
    • Physics, University of California, Berkeley

  • Gilbert Lopez

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • Physics, University of California, Berkeley

  • Nityan Nair

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • physics, University of California, Berkeley

  • Nicholas Breznay

    • Harvey Mudd College
    • Physics, Harvey Mudd College

  • Zahirul Islam

    • Argonne National Laboratory
    • APS synchrotron, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Physics, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Argonne Natl Lab

  • Alex Frano

    • Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego
    • University of California, San Diego
    • Physics, Univ of California - San Diego

  • James Analytis

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • Physics, University of California Berkeley
    • Physics, University of California Berkerley
    • Physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • physics, University of California, Berkeley