Magnetic correlations in the semimetallic hyper-kagome iridate Na3Ir3O8

Abstract

We present a microscopic study of a doped quantum spin liquid candidate, the hyperkagome Na$_3$Ir$_3$O$_8$ compound by using $^{23}$Na NMR. We determine the intrinsic behavior of the uniform \textbf{q} $ = 0$ susceptibility via shift measurements and the dynamical response by probing the spin-lattice relaxation rate. Throughout the studied temperature range, the susceptibility is consistent with a semimetal behavior, though with electronic bands substantially modified by correlations. Remarkably, the antiferromagnetic fluctuations present in the insulating parent compound Na$_4$Ir$_3$O$_8$ survive in the studied compound. The spin dynamics are consistent with 120$^o$ excitations modes displaying short-range correlations.