PhysRevResearch.2.033328.pdf (2.49 MB)

# Reentrant incommensurate order and anomalous magnetic torque in the Kitaev magnet β−Li2IrO3

journal contribution
posted on 02.09.2020, 09:58 by Mengqun Li, Natalia B Perkins
We present a theoretical study of the response of $\beta$-$\text{Li}_2\text{IrO}_3$ under external magnetic fields in the $ab$, $bc$ and $ac$ crystallographic planes. The results are based on the minimal nearest-neighbor $J$-$K$-$\Gamma$ model and reveal a rich intertwining of field-induced phases and magnetic phase transitions with distinctive signatures that can be probed directly via torque magnetometry. Most saliently, we observe: i) an unusual reentrance of the incommensurate counter-rotating order for fields in the $ab$-plane, and ii) a set of abrupt torque discontinuities which are particularly large for fields rotating in the $bc$ plane, and whose characteristic shape resembles closely the ones observed in the 3D Kitaev magnet $\gamma$-$\text{Li}_2\text{IrO}_3$. An experimental confirmation of these predictions will pave the way for an accurate determination of all relevant microscopic parameters of this 3D Kitaev magnet.

• Science

• Physics

## Published in

Physical Review Research

2

3

## Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)

## Version

VoR (Version of Record)

## Publisher statement

This is an Open Access Article. It is published by the American Physical Society under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY). Full details of this licence are available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

16/07/2020

2020-08-28

2020

2643-1564

en

## Depositor

Dr Ioannis Rousochatzakis. Deposit date: 28 August 2020

033328

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