Oscillations in the magnetothermal conductivity of $\boldsymbol{\alpha}$-RuCl$_3$: Evidence of transition anomalies

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic field dependence of thermal conductivity in $ ext{α-RuCl}_3$, revealing that observed oscillations are due to transition anomalies rather than evidence of a quantum spin-liquid state.

Contribution

The paper demonstrates that oscillations in thermal conductivity are linked to magnetic transition anomalies, challenging previous interpretations of these oscillations as signatures of a spin-liquid state.

Findings

Oscillations are consistent across different in-plane magnetic field directions.

Oscillation periods are controlled by transition fields $B_c$ and $B^*$.

Oscillations are due to magnetic transition anomalies, not fermionic excitations.

Abstract

The 2D layered insulator $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ is a candidate material for a quantum spin-liquid state, which may be realized when a magnetic field suppresses the antiferromagnetic order present at low temperature. Oscillations in the field dependence of the thermal conductivity, observed for an in-plane magnetic field $B$ up to a critical field $B^{\star}$, have been attributed to exotic charge-neutral fermions, viewed as evidence of a quantum spin-liquid state between the critical field $B_{c}$ $\simeq 7$ T at which the antiferromagnetic phase ends and $B^{\star}$. Here we report measurements of the thermal conductivity of $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$ as a function of magnetic field up to 15 T applied in two distinct in-plane directions: parallel and perpendicular to the Ru-Ru bond. We find that the number of oscillations between $B_{c}$ and $B^{\star}$ is the same for the two field directions even though the field interval between $B_{c}$ and $B^{\star}$ is different. In other words, the period of the oscillations is controlled by the transition fields $B_{c}$ and $B^{\star}$. We conclude that these are not true oscillations -- coming from putative fermions in a spin-liquid state -- but anomalies associated with a sequence of magnetic transitions.