# Putative spin-nematic phase in BaCdVO(PO$_{4}$)$_{2}$

## TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic properties of BaCdVO(PO$_{4}$)$_{2}$, revealing partial magnetic order, persistent fluctuations, and evidence for a potential spin-nematic phase at high magnetic fields.

## Contribution

It provides experimental evidence for a putative spin-nematic phase in a frustrated 2D spin-1/2 magnet, highlighting the role of frustration and magnon interactions in its emergence.

## Key findings

- Only 34% of spins order in an up-up-down-down pattern.
- 66% of spins remain fluctuating, indicating strong frustration.
- High magnetic field induces a phase likely to be a bond-spin-nematic state.

## Abstract

We report neutron scattering and AC magnetic susceptibility measurements of the 2D spin-1/2 frustrated magnet BaCdVO(PO$_{4}$)$_{2}$. At temperatures well below $T_{\sf N}\approx 1K$, we show that only 34 % of the spin moment orders in an up-up-down-down strip structure. Dominant magnetic diffuse scattering and comparison to published $\mu$sr measurements indicates that the remaining 66 % is fluctuating. This demonstrates the presence of strong frustration, associated with competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions, and points to a subtle ordering mechanism driven by magnon interactions. On applying magnetic field, we find that at $T=0.1$ K the magnetic order vanishes at 3.8 T, whereas magnetic saturation is reached only above 4.5 T. We argue that the putative high-field phase is a realization of the long-sought bond-spin-nematic state.