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Condensed Matter Seminar - "Oscillations of the thermal conductivity in the spin-liquid phase of the honeycomb magnet a-RuCl3"

Event Type
Seminar/Symposium
Sponsor
Physics - Condensed Matter
Virtual
wifi event
Date
Apr 9, 2021   1:00 pm  
Speaker
Nai Phuan Ong, Princeton University
Contact
Stephen Bullwinkel
E-Mail
bullwink@illinois.edu
Phone
217-333-1652
Views
31
Originating Calendar
Physics - Condensed Matter Seminar

The quantum spin-liquid (QSL) state is currently of intense interest because it exhibits novel excitations as well as wave-function entanglement. The layered insulator RuCl3 orders as a zigzag antiferromagnet below 7 K in zero magnetic field. The zigzag order is destroyed when a magnetic field H is applied parallel to the zigzag axis a. Within the field interval (7.3, 11) Tesla, there is growing evidence that a QSL state exists. I will describe the emergence of oscillations in its thermal conductivity below 4 K. The oscillation amplitude is very large within the field interval (7.3, 11) T and strongly suppressed on either side. Paradoxically, the oscillations are periodic in 1/H, analogous to quantum oscillations in metals, even though RuCl3 is an excellent insulator. The implications of the oscillations are discussed.

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