Spin-stripe phase in a frustrated zigzag spin-1/2 chain

TL;DR

This study reveals a spin-stripe phase in a frustrated zigzag spin-1/2 chain material, driven by weak interchain interactions and electric polarization, offering new insights into stripe formation in correlated electron systems.

Contribution

It demonstrates that spin-stripe textures can develop in antiferromagnets without long-range dipole interactions, highlighting an alternative mechanism involving frustrated short-range interchain exchange.

Findings

Identification of a narrow spin stripe phase in $eta$-TeVO$_4$

Evidence of stripe formation driven by weak interchain interactions

Potential role of electric polarization in stripe stabilization

Abstract

Motifs of periodic modulations are encountered in a variety of natural systems, where at least two rival states are present. In strongly correlated electron systems such behaviour has typically been associated with competition between short- and long-range interactions, e.g., between exchange and dipole-dipole interactions in the case of ferromagnetic thin films. Here we show that spin-stripe textures may develop also in antiferromagnets, where long-range dipole-dipole magnetic interactions are absent. A comprehensive analysis of magnetic susceptibility, high-field magnetization, specific heat, and neutron diffraction measurements unveils $\beta$-TeVO$_4$ as a nearly perfect realization of a frustrated (zigzag) ferromagnetic spin-1/2 chain. Strikingly, a narrow spin stripe phase develops at elevated magnetic fields due to weak frustrated short-range interchain exchange interactions possibly assisted by the symmetry allowed electric polarization. This concept provides an alternative route for the stripe formation in strongly correlated electron systems and may help understanding other widespread, yet still elusive, stripe-related phenomena.