# The decisive role of magnetic anisotropy in honeycomb layered Li$_3$Ni$_2$SbO$_6$ and Na$_3$Ni$_2$SbO$_6$

## TL;DR

This study demonstrates the significant influence of magnetic anisotropy on the magnetic properties and phase behavior of honeycomb layered Li$_3$Ni$_2$SbO$_6$ and Na$_3$Ni$_2$SbO$_6$, using high-frequency electron spin resonance.

## Contribution

It provides detailed analysis of magnetic anisotropy effects in these compounds, revealing how small anisotropies can determine spin structures and phase transitions.

## Key findings

- Magnetic phase diagrams show competing antiferromagnetic phases.
- Anisotropy gaps are quantified as 360 GHz in Na and around 200 GHz in Li compounds.
- Short-range antiferromagnetic order persists above the Néel temperature.

## Abstract

The decisive role of magnetic anisotropy even in systems with small anisotropy is illustrated for the honeycomb-layered antiferromagnets The decisive role of magnetic anisotropy in honeycomb layered Li$_3$Ni$_2$SbO$_6$ and Na$_3$Ni$_2$SbO$_6$ with $A$ = Li and Na. Both systems evolve long range magnetic order below $T_{\rm N}$ = 14 and 16.5~K, respectively. The magnetic phase diagrams obtained from static magnetisation studies up to 15~T imply competing antiferromagnetic phases and a tricritical point at $T_{\rm N}$. The phase boundaries are visible in the dynamic response of the antiferromagnetic resonance modes, too, which investigation by means of high frequency/high field electron spin resonance enables precise determination of magnetic anisotropy. The anisotropy gap amounts to $\Delta = 360 \pm 2$~GHz in Na$_3$Ni$_2$SbO$_6$ while in Li$_3$Ni$_2$SbO$_6$ orthorhombicity is associated with $\Delta = 198 \pm 4$ and $218 \pm 4$~GHz. Above $T_{\rm N}$, the data imply short-range antiferromagnetic order up to at least 80~K. The data suggest a crucial role of anisotropy for selecting the actual spin structure at $B=0$~T.