Spin liquid correlations, anisotropic exchange and symmetry breaking in Tb2Ti2O7

TL;DR

This study investigates the low-energy spin dynamics of Tb2Ti2O7 using inelastic neutron scattering, revealing dual responses and symmetry breaking, interpreted through anisotropic exchange interactions and supported by RPA simulations.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the spin correlations and symmetry breaking mechanisms in Tb2Ti2O7 through detailed neutron scattering analysis and theoretical modeling.

Findings

Dual static and inelastic spin responses with Q-dependence

Evidence of symmetry breaking at the rare earth site

Successful RPA simulations of inelastic scattering

Abstract

We have studied the low energy spin dynamics between 4.6K and 0.07K in a Tb2Ti2O7 single crystal sample, by means of inelastic neutron scattering experiments. The spectra consist in a dual response, with a static and an inelastic contribution, showing striking Q-dependences. We propose an interpretation involving an anisotropic exchange interaction in combination with a breaking of the threefold symmetry at the rare earth site. Simulations of the Q-dependent scattering in the Random Phase Approximation account well for the inelastic response.