Absence of magnetic order and emergence of unconventional fluctuations in $J_{\mathrm{eff}}=1/2$ triangular lattice antiferromagnet YbBO${}_3$

Abstract

We present the ground state properties of a new quantum antiferromagnet YbBO${}_3$ in which the isotropic Yb${}^{3+}$ triangular layers are separated by a non-magnetic layer of partially occupied B and O(2) sites. The magnetization and heat capacity data establish a spin-orbit entangled effective spin $J_{\mathrm{eff}}=1/2$ state of Yb${}^{3+}$ ions at low temperatures, interacting antiferromagnetically with an intra-layer coupling $J/k_{\mathrm{B}}\simeq 0.53$ K. The absence of oscillations and a $1/3$ tail in the zero-field muon asymmetries rule out the onset of magnetic long-range-order as well as spin-freezing down to 20~mK. An anomalous broad maximum in the temperature dependent heat capacity with a unusually reduced value and a broad anomaly in zero-field muon depolarization rate centered at $T^{\ast }\simeq 0.7\frac{J}{k_{\mathrm{B}}}$ provide compelling evidence for a wide fluctuating regime ($0.182\le T/J\le 1.63$) with slow relaxation. We infer that the fluctuating regime is a universal feature of a highly frustrated triangular lattice antiferromagnets while the absence of magnetic long-range-order is due to perfect two-dimensionality of the spin-lattice protected by non-magnetic site disorder.

7 pages, 4 figures