Holes in a quantum spin liquid

Authors

Guangyong Xu, Johns Hopkins University
G. Aeppli, NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
M. E. Bisher, NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
C. Broholm, Johns Hopkins University
J. F. DiTusa, Louisiana State University
C. D. Frost, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
T. Ito, Electrotechnical Laboratory
K. Oka, Electrotechnical Laboratory
R. L. Paul, National Institute of Standards and Technology
H. Takagi, The University of Tokyo
M. M.J. Treacy, NEC Laboratories America, Inc.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-21-2000

Abstract

Magnetic neutron scattering provides evidence for nucleation of antiferromagnetic droplets around impurities in a doped nickel oxide-based quantum magnet. The undoped parent compound contains a spin liquid with a cooperative singlet ground state and a gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum. Calcium doping creates excitations below the gap with an incommensurate structure factor. We show that weakly interacting antiferromagnetic droplets with a central phase shift of π and a size controlled by the correlation length of the quantum liquid can account for the data. The experiment provides a quantitative impression of the magnetic polarization cloud associated with holes in a doped transition metal oxide.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Science

First Page

419

Last Page

422

Recommended Citation

Xu, G., Aeppli, G., Bisher, M., Broholm, C., DiTusa, J., Frost, C., Ito, T., Oka, K., Paul, R., Takagi, H., & Treacy, M. (2000). Holes in a quantum spin liquid. Science, 289 (5478), 419-422. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.289.5478.419