Van Hove singularity in the magnon spectrum of the antiferromagnetic quantum honeycomb lattice

Abstract

The magnetic excitation spectrum of the quantum magnet YbCl${}_3$ is studied with inelastic neutron scattering. The spectrum exhibits an unusually sharp feature within a broad continuum, as well as conventional spin waves. By including both transverse and longitudinal channels of the neutron response, linear spin wave theory with a single Heisenberg interaction on the honeycomb lattice reproduces all of the key features in the spectrum. In particular, the broad continuum corresponds to a two-magnon contribution from the longitudinal channel, while the sharp feature within this continuum is identified as a Van Hove singularity in the joint density of states, which indicates the two-dimensional nature of the two-magnon continuum. We term these singularities magneto-caustic features in analogy with caustic features in ray optics where focused envelopes of light are generated when light passes through or reflects from curved or distorted surfaces. The experimental demonstration of a sharp Van Hove singularity in a two-magnon continuum is important because analogous features in potential two-spinon continua could distinguish quantum spin liquids from merely disordered systems. These results establish YbCl${}_3$ as a nearly ideal two-dimensional honeycomb lattice material hosting strong quantum effects in the unfrustrated limit.

17 pages, 5 figures

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