TY - JOUR
T1 - Direct evidence of a zigzag spin-chain structure in the honeycomb lattice
T2 - A neutron and x-ray diffraction investigation of single-crystal Na 2IrO 3
AU - Ye, Feng
AU - Chi, Songxue
AU - Cao, Huibo
AU - Chakoumakos, Bryan C.
AU - Fernandez-Baca, Jaime A.
AU - Custelcean, Radu
AU - Qi, T. F.
AU - Korneta, O. B.
AU - Cao, G.
PY - 2012/5/8
Y1 - 2012/5/8
N2 - We have combined single-crystal neutron and x-ray diffractions to investigate the magnetic and crystal structures of the honeycomb lattice Na 2IrO 3. The system orders magnetically below 18.1(2) K with Ir4 + ions forming zigzag spin chains within the layered honeycomb network with an ordered moment of 0.22(1)μ B/Ir site. Such a configuration sharply contrasts with the Néel or stripe states proposed in the Kitaev-Heisenberg model. The structure refinement reveals that the Ir atoms form a nearly ideal two-dimensional honeycomb lattice while the IrO 6 octahedra experience a trigonal distortion that is critical to the ground state. The results of this study provide much needed experimental insights into the magnetic and crystal structure that are crucial to the understanding of the exotic magnetic order and possible topological characteristics in the 5d-electron-based honeycomb lattice.
AB - We have combined single-crystal neutron and x-ray diffractions to investigate the magnetic and crystal structures of the honeycomb lattice Na 2IrO 3. The system orders magnetically below 18.1(2) K with Ir4 + ions forming zigzag spin chains within the layered honeycomb network with an ordered moment of 0.22(1)μ B/Ir site. Such a configuration sharply contrasts with the Néel or stripe states proposed in the Kitaev-Heisenberg model. The structure refinement reveals that the Ir atoms form a nearly ideal two-dimensional honeycomb lattice while the IrO 6 octahedra experience a trigonal distortion that is critical to the ground state. The results of this study provide much needed experimental insights into the magnetic and crystal structure that are crucial to the understanding of the exotic magnetic order and possible topological characteristics in the 5d-electron-based honeycomb lattice.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84861149544&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.85.180403
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.85.180403
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84861149544
SN - 1098-0121
VL - 85
JO - Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
JF - Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
IS - 18
M1 - 180403
ER -