Prof Radu Coldea

Abstract:

The ground-state ordering and dynamics of the two-dimensional S = 1/2 frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnet Cs(2)CuCl(4) are explored using neutron scattering in high magnetic fields. We find that the dynamic correlations show a highly dispersive continuum of excited states, characteristic of the resonating valence bond state, arising from pairs of S = 1/2 spinons. Quantum renormalization factors for the excitation energies (1.65) and incommensuration (0.56) are large.

Abstract:

The magnetic excitation spectrum in the two-dimensional (2D) S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet copper deuteroformate tetradeuterate (CFTD) has been measured for temperatures up to T\sim J/2, where J=6.31+-0.02 meV is the 2D exchange coupling. For T\ll J, a dispersion of the zone boundary energy is observed, which is attributed to a wavevector dependent quantum renormalization. At higher temperatures, spin-wave-like excitations persist, but are found to broaden and soften. By combining our data with numerical calculations, and with existing theoretical work, a consistent description of the behaviour of the model system is found over the whole temperature interval investigated.

Abstract:

Neutron scattering measurements have been made of the excitations of the S = 1 antiferromagnetic chain compound CSNiCl3. The new results show the existence of a continuum component to the excitation spectrum at energies higher than the Haldane gap and that the Haldane gap excitation increases in energy and remains resonant as the temperature is increased. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.