Giant magnetic in-plane anisotropy and competing instabilities in Na3Co2SbO6

Abstract

We report magnetometry data obtained on twin-free single crystals of Na3Co2SbO6, which is considered a candidate material for realizing the Kitaev honeycomb model for quantum spin liquids. Contrary to a common belief that such materials can be modeled with the symmetries of an ideal honeycomb lattice, our data reveal a pronounced two-fold symmetry and in-plane anisotropy of over 200%, despite the honeycomb layer's tiny orthorhombic distortion of less than 0.2%. We further use magnetic neutron diffraction to elucidate a rich variety of field-induced phases observed in the magnetometry. These phases manifest themselves in the paramagnetic state as diffuse scattering signals associated with competing ferro- and antiferromagnetic instabilities, consistent with a theory that also predicts a quantum spin liquid phase nearby. Our results call for theoretical understanding of the observed in-plane anisotropy, and render Na3Co2SbO6 a promising ground for finding exotic quantum phases by targeted external tuning.

19 pages, 15 figures, 1 animation; to appear in Phys. Rev. X

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• Comparative Raman Scattering Study of Crystal Field Excitations in Co-based Quantum Magnets
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• Field-induced magnetic phases in the Kitaev candidate Na${}_3$Co${}_2$SbO${}_6$
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• Spin disorder state induced by Mg${}^{2+}$ doping in a Kitaev material Na${}_3$Co${}_2$SbO${}_6$
• Doping dependence of the magnetic ground state in the frustrated magnets Ba${}_2$$M$Te${}_{1-x}$W${}_x$O${}_6$ ($M$ = Mn, Co)
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• Anisotropic magnetoelastic coupling in the honeycomb magnet Na${}_3$Co${}_2$SbO${}_6$
• Complex Temperature-dependent Thermal Conductivity in a Sawtooth Chain Magnet Fe${}_2$SiSe${}_4$
• Kitaev interaction and possible spin liquid state in CoI2 and Co2/3Mg1/3I2
• Relevance of on-site and intersite Coulomb interactions in the Kitaev-Heisenberg magnet Na${}_3$Co${}_2$SbO${}_6$