# Disorder-Induced Mimicry of a Spin Liquid in YbMgGaO$_4$

## TL;DR

This paper proposes that disorder from charge inhomogeneity in YbMgGaO$_4$ can induce a spin-disordered state that mimics a quantum spin liquid, explaining experimental observations without requiring intrinsic spin-liquid physics.

## Contribution

It introduces a disorder-based mechanism for spin-liquid mimicry in YbMgGaO$_4$, supported by theoretical calculations and consistent with experimental data.

## Key findings

- Disorder from Mg$^{2+}$/Ga$^{3+}$ mixing induces spin disorder.
- Ordered states are stable without quenched disorder.
- Proposed scenario aligns with experimental observations.

## Abstract

We suggest that a randomization of the pseudo-dipolar interaction in the spin-orbit-generated low-energy Hamiltonian of YbMgGaO$_4$ due to an inhomogeneous charge environment from a natural mixing of Mg$^{2+}$ and Ga$^{3+}$ can give rise to orientational spin disorder and mimic a spin-liquid-like state. In the absence of such quenched disorder, $1/S$ and density matrix renormalization group calculations both show robust ordered states for the physically relevant phases of the model. Our scenario is consistent with the available experimental data and further experiments are proposed to support it.