Multistage spin correlations in the s = 1 2 stuffed hyper-star lattice Li 2 Cu 2 ( MoO 4 ) 3

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Authors: J. Khatua, Taeyun Kim, G. Senthil Murugan, Sagar Mal Kumawat, C. -L. Huang, Yugo Oshima, Hiroyuki Nojiri, Gerald Morris, Sarah R. Dunsiger, Heung-Sik Kim, K. Sritharan, SHANKAR Mani
+2 more R. Sankar, Kwang‐Yong Choi
Cited by: 0
References: 55

Abstract

Star lattice, which can be visualized as a honeycomb network with each vertex replaced by a triangle, provides a rare platform for realizing exotic quantum states such as quantum spin liquids and disorder-driven random-singlet (RS) states. Herein, we investigate the ground-state properties of the three-dimensional (3D) stuffed hyper-star lattice Li$_2$Cu$_2$(MoO$_4$)$_3$, which exhibits a crossover from short-range spin correlations to a disorder-driven RS-like state below $T^{*}\sim$15.8 K. Thermodynamic and microscopic measurements capture this crossover through a change in the power-law behavior of various observables, from $\sim T^{0.25}$ for $T > T^{*}$ to $\sim T^{-0.50}$ for $T < T^{*}$. Upon further cooling, a quasi-frozen state emerges near $T_{\rm f} = 0.32$ K, likely associated with weakly coupled spin chains within the hyper-star spin network. Our results underscore the crucial role of orphan spins and weak residual interactions in stabilizing a disorder-driven quantum-disordered state in 3D.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced Condensed Matter Physics Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism Theoretical and Computational Physics

Publication details

Journal / source
Physical review. B./Physical review. B
Volume
113
Issue
10
Publication date
26 February 2026
Language
EN