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Quantum magnets have occupied the fertile ground between many-body theory and low-temperature experiments on real materials since the early days of quantum mechanics. However, our understanding of even deceptively simple systems of interacting spin-1/2 particles is far from complete. The quantum square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet, for example, exhibits a striking anomaly of hitherto unknown origin in its magnetic excitation spectrum. This quantum effect manifests itself for excitations propagating with the specific wavevector (π, 0). We use polarized neutron spectroscopy to fully characterize the magnetic fluctuations in the metal-organic compound Cu(DCOO)2⋅4D2O, a known realization of the quantum square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet model. Our experiments reveal an isotropic excitation continuum at the anomaly, which we analyse theoretically using Gutzwiller-projected trial wavefunctions. The excitation continuum is accounted for by the existence of spatially extended pairs of fractional S = 1/2 quasiparticles, 2D analogues of 1D spinons. Away from the anomalous wavevector, these fractional excitations are bound and form conventional magnons. Our results establish the existence of fractional quasiparticles in the high-energy spectrum of a quasi-two-dimensional antiferromagnet, even in the absence of frustration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the experimental phase diagram of LiHoxEr1-xF4, a dilution series of dipolar-coupled model magnets. The phase diagram was determined using a combination of ac susceptibility and neutron scattering. Three unique phases in addition to the Ising ferromagnet LiHoF4 and the XY antiferromagnet LiErF4 have been identified. Below x=0.86, an embedded spin-glass phase is observed, where a spin glass exists within the ferromagnetic structure. Below x=0.57, an Ising spin glass is observed consisting of frozen needlelike clusters. For x∼0.3–0.1, an antiferromagnetically coupled spin glass occurs. A reduction of TC(x) for the ferromagnet is observed which disobeys the mean-field predictions that worked for LiHoxY1-xF4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuprates and other high-temperature superconductors consist of two-dimensional layers that are crucial to their properties. The dynamics of the quantum spins in these layers lie at the heart of the mystery of the cuprates. In bulk cuprates such as La2CuO4, the presence of a weak coupling between the two-dimensional layers stabilizes a three-dimensional magnetic order up to high temperatures. In a truly two-dimensional system however, thermal spin fluctuations melt long-range order at any finite temperature. Here, we measure the spin response of isolated layers of La2CuO4 that are only one-unit-cell-thick. We show that coherent magnetic excitations, magnons, known from the bulk order, persist even in a single layer of La2CuO4, with no evidence for more complex correlations such as resonating valence bond correlations. These magnons are, therefore, well described by spin-wave theory (SWT). On the other hand, we also observe a high-energy magnetic continuum in the isotropic magnetic response that is not well described by two-magnon SWT, or indeed any existing theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature superconductivity remains arguably the greatest enigma of condensed matter physics. The discovery of iron-based hightemperature superconductors [1, 2] has renewed the importance of understanding superconductivity in materials susceptible to magnetic order and fluctuations. Intriguingly, they show magnetic fluctuations reminiscent of superconducting (SC) cuprates [3], including a 'resonance' and an 'hourglass'-shaped dispersion [4], which provides an opportunity to gain new insights into the coupling between spin fluctuations and superconductivity. In this paper, we report inelastic neutron scattering data on Fe1+yTe0.7Se0.3 using excess iron concentration to tune between an SC (y = 0.02) and a non-SC (y = 0.05) ground state. We find incommensurate spectra in both the samples but discover that in the one that becomes SC, a constriction toward a commensurate hourglass-shape develops well above Tc. Conversely, a spin gap and a concomitant spectral weight shift happen below Tc. Our results imply that the hourglass-shaped dispersion is most likely a prerequisite for superconductivity, whereas the spin gap and shift of spectral weight are the consequences of superconductivity. We explain this observation by pointing out that an inward dispersion toward the commensurate wave vector is needed for the opening of a spin gap to lower the magnetic exchange energy and hence provide the necessary condensation energy for the SC state to emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at the oxygen K edge has been used to study the orbital excitations of Ca2RuO4 and Sr2RuO4. In combination with linear dichroism x-ray absorption spectroscopy, the ruthenium 44-orbital occupation and excitations were probed through their hybridization with the oxygen p orbitals. These results are described within a minimal model, taking into account crystal field splitting and a spin-orbit coupling λ50 = 200 meV. The effects of spin-orbit interaction on the electronic stmcture and implications for the Mott and superconducting ground states of (Ca,Sr)2RuO4 are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the zero-point and thermal ionic motion in La2CuO4 by means of high-resolution neutron-diffraction experiments. Our results demonstrate anisotropic motion of 0 and, to a lesser extent, Cu ions, both consistent with the structure of coupled CuO6 octahedra, and quantify the relative effects of zero-point and thermal contributions to ionic motion. By substitution of 18O, we find that the oxygen isotope effect on the lattice dimensions is small and negative (-0.01%), while the isotope effect on the ionic displacement parameters is significant (-6 to 50%). We use our results as input for theoretical estimates of the distribution of magnetic interaction parameters, J, in an effective one-band model for the cuprate plane. We find that ionic motion causes only small (1%) effects on the average value , which vary with temperature and 0 isotope, but results in dramatic (10-20%) fluctuations in J values that are subject to significant (8-12%) isotope effects. We demonstrate that this motional broadening of J can have substantial effects on certain electronic and magnetic properties in cuprates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature superconductivity remains arguably the greatest enigma of condensed matter physics. The discovery of iron-based hightemperature superconductors [1, 2] has renewed the importance of understanding superconductivity in materials susceptible to magnetic order and fluctuations. Intriguingly, they show magnetic fluctuations reminiscent of superconducting (SC) cuprates [3], including a 'resonance' and an 'hourglass'-shaped dispersion [4], which provides an opportunity to gain new insights into the coupling between spin fluctuations and superconductivity. In this paper, we report inelastic neutron scattering data on Fe1+yTe0.7Se0.3 using excess iron concentration to tune between an SC (y = 0.02) and a non-SC (y = 0.05) ground state. We find incommensurate spectra in both the samples but discover that in the one that becomes SC, a constriction toward a commensurate hourglass-shape develops well above Tc. Conversely, a spin gap and a concomitant spectral weight shift happen below Tc. Our results imply that the hourglass-shaped dispersion is most likely a prerequisite for superconductivity, whereas the spin gap and shift of spectral weight are the consequences of superconductivity. We explain this observation by pointing out that an inward dispersion toward the commensurate wave vector is needed for the opening of a spin gap to lower the magnetic exchange energy and hence provide the necessary condensation energy for the SC state to emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel iridate Ba8Al2IrO14 was prepared as single crystals by self-flux method, thereby providing a rare example of an all-Ir(VI) compound that can be synthesized under ambient pressure conditions. The preparation of all-Ir(6+) iridate without using traditional high-pressure techniques has to our knowledge previously only been reported in Nd2K2IrO7 and Sm2K2IrO7. The monoclinic crystal structure (space group C2/m, No.12) is stable down to 90 K and contains layers of IrO6 octahedra separated by Ba and AlO4 tetrahedra. The material exhibits insulating behavior with a narrow band gap of ∼0.6 eV. The positive Seebeck coefficient indicates hole-like dominant charge carriers. Susceptibility measurement shows antiferromagnetic coupling with no order down to 2 K.

The high-Tc cuprate superconductors are close to antiferromagnetic order. Recent measurements of magnetic excitations have reported an intriguing similarity to the spin waves--magnons--of the antiferromagnetic insulating parent compounds, suggesting that magnons may survive in damped, broadened form throughout the phase diagram. Here we show by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering on Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+δ) (Bi-2212) that the analogy with spin waves is only partial. The magnon-like features collapse along the nodal direction in momentum space and exhibit a photon energy dependence markedly different from the Mott-insulating case. These observations can be naturally described by the continuum of charge and spin excitations of correlated electrons. The persistence of damped magnons could favour scenarios for superconductivity built from quasiparticles coupled to spin fluctuations. However, excitation spectra composed of particle-hole excitations suggest that superconductivity emerges from a coherent treatment of electronic spin and charge in the form of quasiparticles with very strong magnetic correlations.

Magnetism has been predicted to occur in systems in which dipolar interactions dominate exchange. We present neutron scattering, specific heat, and magnetic susceptibility data for LiErF(4), establishing it as a model dipolar-coupled antiferromagnet with planar spin-anisotropy and a quantum phase transition in applied field H(c|| = 4.0 ± 0.1 kilo-oersteds. We discovered non-mean-field critical scaling for the classical phase transition at the antiferromagnetic transition temperature that is consistent with the two-dimensional XY/h(4) universality class; in accord with this, the quantum phase transition at H(c) exhibits three-dimensional classical behavior. The effective dimensional reduction may be a consequence of the intrinsic frustrated nature of the dipolar interaction, which strengthens the role of fluctuations.

We measured the momentum dependence of magnetic excitations in the model spin-1/2 2D antiferromagnetic insulator Sr2CuO2Cl2 (SCOC). We identify a single-spin-wave feature and a multimagnon continuum, with different polarization dependences. The spin waves display a large (70 meV) dispersion between the zone-boundary points (π, 0) and (π/2, π/2). Employing an extended t-t'-t''-U one-band Hubbard model, we find significant electronic hopping beyond nearest-neighbor Cu ions, indicative of extended magnetic interactions. The spectral line shape at (π, 0) indicates sizable quantum effects in SCOC and probably more generally in the cuprates.