Comment on "Neutron diffraction evidence of the 3-dimensional structure of Ba2MnTeO6 and misidentification of the triangular layers within the face-centred cubic lattice"

TL;DR

This paper defends the magnetic findings of Ba2MnTeO6 against structural interpretation disputes, emphasizing that core magnetic properties are unaffected by the precise crystal symmetry, which remains unresolved.

Contribution

The authors clarify that their magnetic and spin dynamic results are independent of the disputed crystal structure, highlighting the need for further high-resolution structural studies.

Findings

Magnetic phase transition at ~21 K

Observation of antiferromagnetic magnons with a 1.4 K gap

Persistence of spin dynamics within the ordered phase

Abstract

Frustrated magnetism continues to attract significant attention due to its potential to host novel quantum many-body phenomena and associated exotic excitations that transcend existing paradigms. Herein, we present our reply to the comment on our recent thermodynamic and muon spin relaxation studies on a frustrated double perovskite, Ba2MnTeO6 (henceforth BMTO). Previous studies by four independent groups, including our group, suggested a trigonal space group based on single-crystal and polycrystalline samples of BMTO, while the recent comment reports a cubic space group based on polycrystalline samples. We believe that the structure is fairly intricate because of the slight variations between the two space groups, refining the crystal structure of BMTO remains an unresolved problem that needs additional high-resolution XRD and neutron diffraction studies on high-quality single crystals. It is thought, however, that structural assignments will not greatly influence any of the primary findings related to the magnetism and spin dynamics of BMTO. These consist of a magnetic phase transition at around 21 K, the observation of antiferromagnetic magnon excitations exhibiting a gap of 1.4 K beneath the phase transition, the presence of short-range spin correlations well above the antiferromagnetic phase transition, and the persistence of spin dynamics even within the magnetically ordered phase. It is important to note that the magnetization, specific heat, and muon spin relaxation findings that constitute the core of our earlier study are independent; the interpretation of these findings did not rely on any specific space group. Concerning the final allocation of the symmetry of BMTO, a definitive differentiation in certain physical characteristics resulting from the symmetry is still necessary.