Constraining the Parameter Space of a Quantum Spin Liquid Candidate in Applied Field with Iterative Optimization

TL;DR

This study combines experimental measurements and computational simulations to precisely determine the magnetic Hamiltonian parameters of YbMgGaO4, a quantum spin liquid candidate, despite chemical disorder, revealing a field-induced phase crossover and proximity to the QSL state.

Contribution

The paper introduces an iterative optimization approach integrating experimental data and simulations to constrain Hamiltonian parameters in disordered QSL candidates.

Findings

Identified a field-induced crossover in YbMgGaO4.

Reproduced crossover behavior with Monte Carlo and DMRG simulations.

Constrained magnetic parameters suggest proximity to the QSL state.

Abstract

The quantum spin liquid (QSL) state is an exotic state of matter featuring a high degree of entanglement and lack of long-range magnetic order in the zero-temperature limit. The triangular antiferromagnet YbMgGaO4 is a candidate QSL host, and precise determination of the Hamiltonian parameters is critical to understanding the nature of the possible ground states. However, the presence of chemical disorder has made directly measuring these parameters challenging. Here we report neutron scattering and magnetic susceptibility measurements covering a broad range of applied magnetic field at low temperature. Our data shows a field-induced crossover in YbMgGaO4, which we reproduce with complementary classical Monte Carlo and Density Matrix Renormalization Group simulations. Neutron scattering data above and below the crossover reveal a shift in scattering intensity from M to K points and, collectively, our measurements provide essential characteristics of the phase crossover that we employ to strictly constrain proposed magnetic Hamiltonian parameters despite the chemical disorder. Constrained exchange parameters further suggest the material's proximity to the QSL state in the clean limit. More broadly, our approach demonstrates a means of pursuing QSL candidates where Hamiltonian parameters might otherwise be obscured by disorder.

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