Dynamical Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya Interaction in KCuF3

Abstract

The spin dynamics of the prototypical quasi one-dimensional antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin S=1/2 chain KCuF3 is investigated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Our analysis shows that the peculiarities of the spin dynamics require a new dynamical form of the antisymmetric anisotropic spin-spin interaction. This dynamical Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction is related to strong oscillations of the bridging fuorine ions perpendicular to the crystallographic c axis. This new mechanism allows to resolve consistently the controversies in observation of the magnetic and structural properties of this orbitally ordered perovskite compound.