Low-dimensional structure and magnetism of the quantum antiferromagnet Rb4Cu(MoO4)3 and the structure of Rb4Zn(MoO4)3.

Single crystals of the quantum low-dimensional antiferromagnet Rb(4)Cu(MoO(4))(3) and the nonmagnetic analogue Ru(4)Zn(MoO(4))(3) have been synthesized by a flux-growth method. Detailed structural studies indicate that the Cu(II)-O network separated by a MoO(4) layer has a strongly anisotropic hybridization along the a-axis, forming a quasi-one-dimensional (1-d) chain of Cu(II) S = 1/2 spins. Furthermore, our low-temperature thermodynamic measurements have revealed that a quantum paramagnetic state with Wilson ratio approximately 2 remains stable down to at least 0.1 K, 100 times lower than the intrachain antiferromagnetic coupling scale. The low-temperature magnetic and thermal properties are found to be consistent with theoretical predictions made for a 1-d network of S = 1/2 spins.