Exotic magnetism and persistent spin dynamics in a frustrated Jeff = 1/2 triangular lattice antiferromagnet

Abstract

The delicate interplay between competing degrees of freedom, anisotropy, and frustration-induced strong quantum fluctuations in pseudospin-$J_{\rm eff}=1/2$ rare-earth triangular-lattice antiferromagnets offers a promising platform for the experimental realization of exotic states with nontrivial low-energy excitations. Here, we present thermodynamic, inelastic neutron scattering (INS), and muon spin relaxation ($μ$SR) investigations of the frustrated magnet K$_3$NdTe$_2$O$9$, in which Nd$^{3+}$ ions constitute a structurally perfect triangular lattice with no detectable site disorder. The experiments reveal the realization of a Kramers doublet ground state with $J{\rm eff}=1/2$ moments, well separated from the first excited state, which interact antiferromagnetically with an exchange interaction of $\sim$0.6 K between the Nd$^{3+}$ moments in the triangular plane. The absence of oscillations and the so-called 1/3 plateau in the zero-field $μ$SR asymmetry down to 50 mK rules out long-range magnetic ordering and spin freezing on the $μ$SR time scale, respectively. The temperature dependence of the zero-field $μ$SR relaxation rate is well described by the Orbach relaxation mechanism, indicating the existence of fluctuating moments in the ground state of this frustrated magnet. Our results demonstrate exotic magnetism and persistent spin dynamics down to 50 mK. These observations establish this new family of frustrated rare-earth triangular-lattice antiferromagnets as a promising venue for the experimental realization of nontrivial quantum states with exotic low-energy excitations.