Spectral evidence for Dirac spinons in a kagome lattice antiferromagnet

Zeng, Z.*; Zhou, C.*; Zhou, H.*; Han, L.*; Chi, R.*; Li, K.*; 古府 麻衣子; 中島 健次; Wei, Y.*; Zhang, W.*; et al.

Nature Physics, 20(7), p.1097 - 1102, 2024/07

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-024-02495-z

Emergent quasiparticles with a Dirac dispersion in condensed matter systems can be described by the Dirac equation for relativistic electrons, in analogy with Dirac particles in high-energy physics. For example, electrons with a Dirac dispersion have been intensively studied in electronic systems such as graphene and topological insulators. However, charge is not a prerequisite for Dirac fermions, and the emergence of Dirac fermions without a charge degree of freedom has been theoretically predicted to be realized in Dirac quantum spin liquids. These quasiparticles carry a spin of 1/2 but are charge-neutral and so are called spinons. Here we show that the spin excitations of a kagome antiferromagnet, YCu(OD)Br[Br(OD)], are conical with a spin continuum inside, which is consistent with the convolution of two Dirac spinons. The predictions of a Dirac spin liquid model with a spinon velocity obtained from spectral measurements are in agreement with the low-temperature specific heat of the sample. Our results, thus, provide spectral evidence for a Dirac quantum spin liquid state emerging in this kagome lattice antiferromagnet. However, the locations of the conical spin excitations differ from those calculated by the nearest-neighbor Heisenberg model, suggesting the Dirac spinons have an unexpected origin.

Polar rotor scattering as atomic-level origin of low mobility and thermal conductivity of perovskite CHNHPbI

Li, B.; 川北 至信; Liu, Y.*; Wang, M.*; 松浦 直人*; 柴田 薫; 河村 聖子; 山田 武*; Lin, S.*; 中島 健次; et al.

Nature Communications (Internet), 8, p.16086_1 - 16086_9, 2017/06

https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms16086

Perovskite CHNHPbI exhibits outstanding photovoltaic performances, but the understanding of the atomic motions remains inadequate even though they take a fundamental role in transport properties. Here, we present a complete atomic dynamic picture consisting of molecular jumping rotational modes and phonons, which is established by carrying out high-resolution time-of-flight quasi-elastic and inelastic neutron scattering measurements in a wide energy window ranging from 0.0036 to 54 meV on a large single crystal sample, respectively. The ultrafast orientational disorder of molecular dipoles, activated at approximately 165 K, acts as an additional scattering source for optical phonons as well as for charge carriers. It is revealed that acoustic phonons dominate the thermal transport, rather than optical phonons due to sub-picosecond lifetimes. These microscopic insights provide a solid standing point, on which perovskite solar cells can be understood more accurately and their performances are perhaps further optimized.

Rotational band properties of W

Wang, H. X.*; Zhang, Y. H.*; Zhou, X. H.*; Liu, M. L.*; Ding, B.*; Li, G. S.*; Hua, W.*; Zhou, H. B.*; Guo, S.*; Qiang, Y. H.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 86(4), p.044305_1 - 044305_11, 2012/10

AA2012-0752.pdf:0.78MB

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.86.044305

High-spin states in W have been studied using the Nd(Si,5)W reaction at beam energies of 135 and 140 MeV. The previously known bands associated with the 7/2[633], 5/2[512], and 1/2[521] configurations are extended significantly, and the unfavored signature branch of the 1/2[521] band is established for the first time. The band properties, such as level spacings, band-crossing frequencies, alignment gains, and signature splittings, are discussed with an emphasis on the low-spin signature inversion observed in the 5/2[512] band. By comparing the experimental (1)/(2) ratios with the theoretical values, we conclude that the configuration of the 5/2[512] band is quite pure at low spins without appreciable admixture of the 5/2[523] orbit, in conflict with the particle rotor model calculated results.