Extreme Suppression of Antiferromagnetic Order and Critical Scaling in a Two-Dimensional Random Quantum Magnet

TL;DR

This study reveals that minimal W substitution in a 2D antiferromagnet drastically suppresses magnetic order, leading to a quantum critical state with unique scaling behavior, explained by a deformed order parameter decaying as 1/r^2.

Contribution

It demonstrates that W impurities cause extreme suppression of antiferromagnetic order in a 2D quantum magnet, with a novel decay of the order parameter and quantum critical scaling evidence.

Findings

Néel order vanishes at x ≈ 0.025

Order parameter decays as 1/r^2 due to W impurities

Quantum critical scaling with z ≈ 3 observed

Abstract

Sr$_2$CuTeO$_6$ is a square-lattice N\'eel antiferromagnet with superexchange between first-neighbor $S=1/2$ Cu spins mediated by plaquette centered Te ions. Substituting Te by W, the affected impurity plaquettes have predominantly second-neighbor interactions, thus causing local magnetic frustration. Here we report a study of Sr$_2$CuTe$_{1-x}$W$_x$O$_6$ using neutron diffraction and $\mu$SR techniques, showing that the N\'eel order vanishes already at $x = 0.025 \pm 0.005$. We explain this extreme order suppression using a two-dimensional Heisenberg spin model, demonstrating that a W-type impurity induces a deformation of the order parameter that decays with distance as $1/r^2$ at temperature $T=0$. The associated logarithmic singularity leads to loss of order for any $x>0$. Order for small $x>0$ and $T>0$ is induced by weak interplane couplings. In the nonmagnetic phase of Sr$_2$CuTe$_{1-x}$W$_x$O$_6$, the $\mu$SR relaxation rate exhibits quantum critical scaling with a large dynamic exponent, $z \approx 3$, consistent with a random-singlet state.