Abstract
Mineral Herbertsmithite, ${\mathrm{ZnCu}}_{3}{(\mathrm{OH})}_{6}{\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$, is an excellent candidate for S = 1/2 Heisenberg kagome antiferromagnet supporting quantum spin liquid (QSL) ground state at low temperature and ambient pressure. The pressure-induced structural evolution of the kagome lattice in Herbertsmithite has been investigated up to 16 GPa using x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements. The system develops a distorted kagome lattice structure (clinoatacamite-like) beyond 8 GPa. This is accompanied by gradual suppression of the quasi-elastic Raman scattering intensity. Our high pressure magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate the emergence of a weak magnetic ordering in the distorted kagome lattice. Pressure-induced enhancement of the magnetic ordering temperature supports a gapped topological QSL rather than gapless ground state close to a quantum critical point. High-pressure optical absorption measurements support the structural evolution.
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