Frustrated systems, in which spin arrangement is not uniquely determined, have attracted attention because peculiar phenomena can occur. Recently, we found the T-linear behavior of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 in the frustrated semiconductor YbCuS2 with a Yb zigzag chain. This behavior indicates the presence of charge-neutral quasiparticles. To investigate the origin and characteristics of such novel quasiparticles observed in YbCuS2, it is highly desirable to study other Yb-based zigzag-chain compounds.
In this study, we performed nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on YbAgSe2, which is a sister compound YbCuS2. Our results indicate no evidence of the T-linear behavior of 1/T1 in YbAgSe2. This suggests that the charge-neutral quasiparticle may be unique to YbCuS2.
This research is a collaborative effort with a group of Professor Takahiro Onimaru at Hiroshima University.
Reference
Gapped Spin Excitation in Magnetic Ordered State on Yb-Based Zigzag Chain Compound YbAgSe2 Journal Article
In: Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, vol. 93, iss. 11, pp. 114702, 2024.
