首页|Evidence for distortion-induced local electric polarization in α-RuCl3

Evidence for distortion-induced local electric polarization in α-RuCl3

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The spin-orbit assisted Mott insulator α-RuCl3 is a prime candidate for material realization of the Kitaev quantum spin liquid.While little attention has been paid to charge degrees of freedom,charge effects,such as electric polarization,may arise in this system.Here,we report distortion-induced local electric polarization in α-RuCl3 as evidenced by single-crystal X-ray diffraction,second harmonic generation(SHG)and dielectric measurements.The SHG signal appears at room temperature and develops substantially in the Kitaev paramagnetic state when short-range spin correlations come into play.Despite sizable pyroelectric currents in the Kitaev paramagnetic state,the absence of hysteresis in the polarization-electric field(P-E)points to the short-range nature of electric polarization.This localized electric polarization is likely the result of distortion-induced charge di-merization,achieved through virtual hopping-induced charge redistribution.In addition,the electric polarization is boosted by short-range spin correlations via spin-phonon coupling in the Kitaev paramagnetic state.Our results emphasize the importance of charge degrees of freedom in α-RuCl3,which establish a novel platform to investigate charge effects in Kitaev materials.

Mott insulatorKitaev quantum spin liquidelectric polarization

Xinrun Mi、De Hou、Xiao Wang、Sabreen Hammouda、Caixing Liu、Zijian Xiong、Han Li、Yan Liu、Guiwen Wang、Aifeng Wang、Yisheng Chai、Yang Qi、Wei Li、Xiaoyuan Zhou、Yixi Su、D.I.Khomskii、Mingquan He、Zhigao Sheng、Young Sun

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College of Physics,Center of Quantum Materials and Devices,Chongqing University,Chongqing 401331,China

Anhui Key Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics at Extreme Conditions,High Magnetic Field Laboratory,Hefei Institutes of Physical Science,Anhui,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Hefei 230031 China

University of Science and Technology of China,Hefei 230026,China

Jülich Centre for Neutron Scienceat Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum(JCNS-MLZ),Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH,Garching D-85747,Germany

School of Physics,Beihang University,Beijing 100191,China

Analytical and Testing Center,Chongqing University,Chongqing 401331,China

State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics,Department of Physics,Fudan University,Shanghai 200433,China

CAS Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics,Institute of Theoretical Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100190,China

Ⅱ.Physikalisches Institut,Universität zu Köln,Köln D-50937,Germany

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National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaFundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesChinesisch-Deutsche Mobilit?tsprogamm of Chinesisch-Deutsche Zentrum für Wissenschaftsf?rderungOpen Fund of the China Spallation Neutron Source Songshan Lake Science CityDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG,German Research Foundation)National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China

12047564517251042024CDJXY022M-0496DG2431351H277146847-CRC 1238122278061197403611834014

2024

10.1007/s11433-024-2417-8

中国科学:物理学 力学 天文学(英文版)
中国科学院

中国科学:物理学 力学 天文学(英文版)

CSTPCD
影响因子：0.91
ISSN：1674-7348
年,卷(期)：2024.67(9)