Magnetostriction of {\alpha}-RuCl3 flakes in the zigzag phase

TL;DR

This study investigates magneto-Raman spectra of exfoliated {\

Contribution

It reveals unexpected stochastic shifts in Raman modes under magnetic fields, indicating magnetostrictive interactions in exfoliated {\

Findings

No R3bar symmetry observed in exfoliated {\

Stochastic Raman mode shifts suggest magnetostrictive effects

No magnetic field-driven phase transitions detected

Abstract

Motivated by the possibility of an intermediate U(1) quantum spin liquid phase in out-of-plane magnetic fields and enhanced magnetic fluctuations in exfoliated {\alpha}-RuCl3 flakes, we study magneto-Raman spectra of exfoliated multilayer {\alpha}-RuCl3 in out-of-plane magnetic fields of -6 T to 6 T at temperatures of 670 mK - 4 K. While the literature currently suggests that bulk {\alpha}-RuCl3 is in an antiferromagnetic zigzag phase with R3bar symmetry at low temperature, we do not observe R3bar symmetry in exfoliated {\alpha}-RuCl3 at low temperatures. While we saw no magnetic field driven transitions, the Raman modes exhibit unexpected stochastic shifts in response to applied magnetic field that are above the uncertainties inferred from Bayesian analysis. These stochastic shifts are consistent with the emergence of magnetostrictive interactions in exfoliated {\alpha}-RuCl3.