Magnetic Excitation Spectrum of the Square Lattice S=1/2 Heisenberg Antiferromagnet K2V3O8

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic excitation spectrum of the S=1/2 square lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet K2V3O8 using neutron scattering, revealing spin wave behavior, a small energy gap, and unexpected mode splitting near the zone boundary.

Contribution

First detailed neutron scattering analysis of K2V3O8 revealing deviations from linear spin wave theory at the zone boundary and exploring possible causes.

Findings

Long-wavelength spin waves match previous Hamiltonian models.

A small energy gap of 72 micro-eV is observed at the zone center.

Unexpected mode splitting occurs near the zone boundary, not explained by current theories.

Abstract

We have explored the magnetic excitation spectrum of the S=1/2 square lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet, K2V3O8 using both triple-axis and time-of-flight inelastic neutron scattering. The long-wavelength spin waves are consistent with the previously determined Hamiltonian for this material. A small energy gap of 72+/-9 micro-eV is observed at the antiferromagnetic zone center and the near-neighbor exchange constant is determined to be 1.08+/-0.03 meV. A finite ferromagnetic interplanar coupling is observed along the crystallographic c-axis with a magnitude of Jc=-0.0036+/-0.006 meV. However, upon approaching the zone boundary, the observed excitation spectrum deviates significantly from the expectation of linear spin wave theory resulting in split modes at the (pi/2,pi/2) zone boundary point. The effects of magnon-phonon interaction, orbital degrees of freedom, multimagnon scattering, and dilution/site randomness are considered in the context of the mode splitting. Unfortunately, no fully satisfactory explanation of this phenomenon is found and further theoretical and experimental work is needed.