%0 Journal Article %1 PhysRevB.109.224424 %A Dey, Santanu %A Maciejko, Joseph %A Vojta, Matthias %D 2024 %I American Physical Society %J Phys. Rev. B %K b %N 22 %P 224424 %R 10.1103/PhysRevB.109.224424 %T Field-driven transition from quantum spin liquid to magnetic order in triangular-lattice antiferromagnets %U https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.109.224424 %V 109 %X Recently, several triangular-lattice magnets with delafossite structure have been found to display spin-liquid behavior down to the lowest temperatures. Remarkably, applying a magnetic field destroys the spin liquid, which then gives way to symmetry-breaking states, identified as semiclassical coplanar states including a magnetization plateau at 1/3 total magnetization. Here we provide a theoretical approach rationalizing this dichotomy, utilizing a Schwinger-boson theory that captures both ordered and disordered magnetic phases. We show that a zero-field spin liquid, driven by strong frustration, is naturally destabilized in a magnetic field via spinon condensation. Symmetry-breaking order akin to the standard triangular-lattice Heisenberg model then arises via an order-by-disorder mechanism. We discuss implications for pertinent experiments.

@article{PhysRevB.109.224424, abstract = {Recently, several triangular-lattice magnets with delafossite structure have been found to display spin-liquid behavior down to the lowest temperatures. Remarkably, applying a magnetic field destroys the spin liquid, which then gives way to symmetry-breaking states, identified as semiclassical coplanar states including a magnetization plateau at 1/3 total magnetization. Here we provide a theoretical approach rationalizing this dichotomy, utilizing a Schwinger-boson theory that captures both ordered and disordered magnetic phases. We show that a zero-field spin liquid, driven by strong frustration, is naturally destabilized in a magnetic field via spinon condensation. Symmetry-breaking order akin to the standard triangular-lattice Heisenberg model then arises via an order-by-disorder mechanism. We discuss implications for pertinent experiments.}, added-at = {2024-06-23T11:28:45.000+0200}, author = {Dey, Santanu and Maciejko, Joseph and Vojta, Matthias}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2772d8d49660531527ac2ffea2680fea7/ctqmat}, day = 20, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.109.224424}, interhash = {ccfad8d0c94c4c6936f9498dcc43f122}, intrahash = {772d8d49660531527ac2ffea2680fea7}, journal = {Phys. Rev. B}, keywords = {b}, month = {06}, number = 22, numpages = {17}, pages = 224424, publisher = {American Physical Society}, timestamp = {2024-06-23T11:28:45.000+0200}, title = {Field-driven transition from quantum spin liquid to magnetic order in triangular-lattice antiferromagnets}, url = {https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.109.224424}, volume = 109, year = 2024 }