In-Gap Spin Excitations and Finite Triplet Lifetimes in the Dilute Singlet Ground State System SrCu(2-x)Mgx(BO3)2

Abstract

High resolution neutron scattering measurements on a single crystal of SrCu(2-x)Mgx(BO3)2 with x=0.05 reveal the presence of new spin excitations within the gap of this quasi-two dimensional, singlet ground state system. Application of a magnetic field induces Zeeman-split states associated with S=1/2 unpaired spins which are antiferromagnetically correlated with the bulk singlet. Substantial broadening of both the one and two-triplet excitations in the doped single crystal is observed, as compared with pure SrCu2(BO3)2. Theoretical calculations using a variational algorithm and a single quenched magnetic vacancy on an infinite lattice are shown to qualitatively account for these effects.