Electron spin resonance study on the 4f honeycomb quantum magnet YbCl3

TL;DR

This study uses electron spin resonance to analyze the magnetic properties of YbCl3, revealing anisotropic g-factors and temperature-dependent spin relaxation influenced by crystal field levels.

Contribution

It provides detailed ESR measurements of YbCl3, highlighting anisotropic g-factors and the role of crystal field excitations in spin relaxation.

Findings

Anisotropic g-factors for in-plane and out-of-plane fields.

Isotropic low-temperature exchange coupling and spin relaxation.

Crystal field excitation at 21 meV influences high-temperature spin dynamics.

Abstract

The local magnetic properties of Yb$^{3+}$ in the layered honeycomb material YbCl$_{3}$ were investigated by electron spin resonance on single crystals. For in-plane and out-of-plane field orientations the $g$-factor shows a clear anisotropy ($g_\|=2.97(8)$ and $g_\bot =1.53(4)$), whereas the low temperature exchange coupling and the spin relaxation display a rather isotropic character. At elevated temperatures the contribution of the first excited crystal field level ($21\pm2$~meV) dominates the spin relaxation.