Spin liquid ground state in the frustrated J1-J2 zigzag chain system BaTb2O4

TL;DR

This study investigates BaTb2O4, a zigzag chain system, revealing it remains paramagnetic down to very low temperatures and exhibits properties similar to known spin liquids, suggesting it as a new candidate.

Contribution

The paper identifies BaTb2O4 as a new large moment spin liquid candidate through comprehensive experimental analysis.

Findings

Remains paramagnetic down to 0.095 K

Exhibits short-range antiferromagnetic correlations

Shows similarities to Tb2Ti2O7 pyrochlore antiferromagnet

Abstract

We have investigated polycrystalline samples of the zigzag chain system BaTb$_2$O$_4$ with a combination of magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, neutron powder diffraction, and muon spin relaxation measurements. Despite the onset of Tb$^{3+}$ short-range antiferromagnetic correlations at $|\theta_{CW}|$ $=$ 18.5 K and a very large effective moment, our combined measurements indicate that BaTb$_2$O$_4$ remains paramagnetic down to 0.095 K. The magnetic properties of this material show striking similarities to the pyrochlore antiferromagnet Tb$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$, and therefore we propose that BaTb$_2$O$_4$ is a new large moment spin liquid candidate.