Direct evidence of a zigzag spin-chain structure in the honeycomb lattice: A neutron and x-ray diffraction investigation of single-crystal Na2IrO3

By F. Ye, S. Chi, Huibo Cao, Bryan C. Chakoumakos, J. Fernandez-Baca, R. Custelcean, T. Qi, O. Korneta, G. Cao. 2012

233 citations recorded by the source corpus.

We have combined single crystal neutron and x-ray diffractions to investigate the magnetic and crystal structures of the honeycomb lattice $$\rm Na_2IrO_3$$. The system orders magnetically below $18.1(2)$~K with Ir$$^{4+}$$ ions forming zigzag spin chains within the layered honeycomb network with ordered moment of $$\rm 0.22(1)~\mu_B$$/Ir site. Such a configuration sharply contrasts the N{\'{e}}el or stripe states proposed in the Kitaev-Heisenberg model. The structure refinement reveals that the Ir atoms form nearly ideal 2D honeycomb lattice while the $$\rm IrO_6$$ octahedra experience a trigonal distortion that is critical to the ground state. The results of this study provide much-needed experimental insights into the magnetic and crystal structure crucial to the understanding of the exotic magnetic order and possible topological characteristics in the 5$d$-electron based honeycomb lattice.

Subfields: Condensed Matter Physics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Materials Chemistry

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/b3c0b6777efe3a56d8bfcee209b4c162f2f87394

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Condensed Matter Physics

  1. Simon Trebst
  2. C. Hickey
  3. J. Knolle
  4. M. Hermanns
  5. I. Kimchi

In Electrical and Electronic Engineering

  1. Simon Trebst
  2. C. Hickey

In Materials Chemistry

  1. Simon Trebst
  2. C. Hickey

Citations in the corpus