# Persistent spin dynamics in the pressurized spin-liquid candidate YbMgGaO$_4$

## TL;DR

This study investigates how pressure affects the crystal structure and spin dynamics of the spin-liquid candidate YbMgGaO$_4$, revealing persistent spin fluctuations up to high pressures and low temperatures.

## Contribution

It provides new insights into the pressure stability of the crystal structure and the persistent spin dynamics in YbMgGaO$_4$, a key candidate for quantum spin liquids.

## Key findings

- Crystal structure remains stable up to 10 GPa.
- Persistent spin dynamics observed up to 2.6 GPa and 250 mK.
- Spin-spin autocorrelation exhibits power-law behavior under pressure.

## Abstract

Single-crystal x-ray diffraction, density-functional band-structure calculations, and muon spin relaxation ($\mu$SR) are used to probe pressure evolution of the triangular spin-liquid candidate YbMgGaO$_4$. The rhombohedral crystal structure is retained up to at least 10 GPa and shows a nearly uniform compression along both in-plane and out-of-plane directions, whereas local distortions caused by the random distribution of Mg$^{2+}$ and Ga$^{3+}$ remain mostly unchanged. The $\mu$SR data confirm persistent spin dynamics up to 2.6 GPa and down to 250 mK with no change in the muon relaxation rate. Longitudinal-field $\mu$SR reveals power-law behavior of the spin-spin autocorrelation function, both at ambient pressure and upon compression.