Unconventional magnetism on a honeycomb lattice inα−RuCl3studied by muon spin rotation

Abstract

Muon spin rotation measurements have been performed on a powder sample of a-RuCl3, a layered material which previously has been proposed to be a quantum magnet on a honeycomb lattice close to a quantum spin liquid ground state. Our data reveal two distinct phase transitions at 11 K and 14 K which we interpret as originating from the onset of three-dimensional order and in-plane magnetic order, respectively. We identify, with the help of density functional theory calculations, likely muon stopping sites and combine these with dipolar field calculations to show that the two measured muon rotation frequencies are consistent with two inequivalent muon sites within a zig-zag antiferromagnetic structure proposed previously.