Spin dynamics of the spin-1 triangular lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet K$_2$Ni(SeO$_3$)$_2$

TL;DR

This study investigates the spin dynamics of the spin-1 triangular lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet K$_2$Ni(SeO$_3$)$_2$ using inelastic neutron scattering, revealing persistent quantum fluctuations and a high-energy continuum, challenging classical magnetic models.

Contribution

It demonstrates that quantum fluctuations survive in spin-1 triangular antiferromagnets and highlights the importance of combined theoretical approaches to understand their complex spin dynamics.

Findings

Observation of coherent one-magnon excitations below T_N

Detection of a broad high-energy continuum in the excitation spectrum

Spectral weight redistribution above T_N without bandwidth change

Abstract

Strong quantum fluctuations and unconventional spin dynamics are well established in the spin-1/2 triangular lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet. However, their survival in the spin-1 case remains an open question. We investigate the spin dynamics of K$_2$Ni(SeO$_3$)$_2$, a nearly ideal spin-1 triangular lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet, using inelastic neutron scattering. Below the ordering temperature $T_{\rm N}$, we observe coherent one-magnon excitations coexisting with a broad high-energy continuum. Two complementary approaches, a spectrally consistent $1/S$-corrected spin wave theory and a beyond-mean-field Schwinger boson theory, reproduce different facets of the continuum. Neither alone is complete, demonstrating substantial quantum fluctuations survive for $S\!=\!1$ and are reflected primarily in the spectral distribution of the continuum. Above $T_{\rm N}$, the continuum bandwidth is conserved while spectral weight is redistributed as magnons lose spatial coherence. Our results establish K$_2$Ni(SeO$_3$)$_2$ as a model triangular antiferromagnet, identifying bandwidth conservation and the distribution of spectral weight within the continuum as organizing principles to understand the spin dynamics of ordered quantum magnets beyond spin-1/2. Our results highlight the need for controlled calculations of the interacting multi-magnon sector of 2D antiferromagnets.