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American Physical Society, Physical review B, 12(91)

DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.91.125112

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Spin-orbiton and quantum criticality inFeSc2S4

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

In FeSc2S4 spin-orbital exchange competes with strong spin-orbit coupling, suppressing long-range spin and orbital order and, hence, this material represents one of the rare examples of a spin-orbital liquid ground state. Moreover, it is close to a quantum-critical point separating the ordered and disordered regimes. Using THz and FIR spectroscopy we study low-lying excitations in FeSc2S4 and provide clear evidence for a spin-orbiton, an excitation of strongly entangled spins and orbitals. It becomes particularly well pronounced upon cooling, when advancing deep into the quantum-critical regime. Moreover, indications of an underlying structureless excitation continuum are found, a possible signature of quantum criticality. ; Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures (including 4 pages and 5 figures in Supplemental Material). Revised version according to suggestions of referees. Phys. Rev. B (in press)