Magnetic ground state and transition of a quantum multiferroic LiCu2O2.
Based on resonant soft x-ray magnetic scattering, we report that LiCu2O2 exhibits a large interchain coupling which suppresses quantum fluctuations along spin chains, and a quasi-2D short-range magnetic order prevails at temperatures above the magnetic transition. These observations unravel the fact that the ground state of LiCu2O2 possesses long-range 2D-like incommensurate magnetic order rather than being a gapped spin liquid as expected from the nature of quantum spin-1/2 chains. In addition, the spin coupling along the c axis is found to be essential for inducing electric polarization.
Huang
S W
SW
National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu 30076, Taiwan.
Huang
D J
DJ
Okamoto
J
J
Mou
C Y
CY
Wu
W B
WB
Yeh
K W
KW
Chen
C L
CL
Wu
M K
MK
Hsu
H C
HC
Chou
F C
FC
Chen
C T
CT