2020/06/30 by H. Zhang, Z. Zhao, D. Gautreau +10 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.str-el
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.125.037204
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 037204 (2020) · Accepted by PRL
arxiv created 2020/07/29 · arxiv updated 2020/07/30
In conventional quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnets with quantum spins, magnetic excitations are carried by either magnons or spinons in different energy regimes: they do not coexist independently, nor could they interact with each other. In this Letter, by combining inelastic neutron scattering, quantum Monte Carlo simulations and Random Phase Approximation calculations, we report the discovery and discuss the physics of the coexistence of magnons and spinons and their interactions in Botallackite-Cu2(OH)3Br. This is a unique quantum antiferromagnet consisting of alternating ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic Spin-1/2 chains with weak inter-chain couplings. Our study presents a new paradigm where one can study the interaction between two different types of magnetic quasiparticles, magnons and spinons.