Tensor network analysis of the maple-leaf antiferromagnet spangolite
Abstract Spangolite (Cu6Al(SO4)(OH)12Cl ⋅ 3H2O) is a hydroxy-hydrated copper sulfate mineral with a one-seventh depleted triangular lattice of Cu2+ ions in each layer. Experimental measurements revealed a non-magnetic ground state at T ~ 8 K with magnetic properties dominated by dimerization. We pro...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Communications Materials |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00904-1 |
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| author | Philipp Schmoll Harald O. Jeschke Yasir Iqbal |
| author_facet | Philipp Schmoll Harald O. Jeschke Yasir Iqbal |
| author_sort | Philipp Schmoll |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Spangolite (Cu6Al(SO4)(OH)12Cl ⋅ 3H2O) is a hydroxy-hydrated copper sulfate mineral with a one-seventh depleted triangular lattice of Cu2+ ions in each layer. Experimental measurements revealed a non-magnetic ground state at T ~ 8 K with magnetic properties dominated by dimerization. We propose a spatially anisotropic Heisenberg model for the Cu2+ spin-1/2 degrees of freedom on this geometrically frustrated and effectively two-dimensional maple-leaf lattice, featuring five symmetry inequivalent couplings with ferromagnetic bonds on hexagons and antiferromagnetic triangular bonds. The validity of the proposed Hamiltonian is demonstrated by state-of-the-art tensor network calculations, which can assess both the nature of the ground state as well as low-temperature thermodynamics, including the effects of a magnetic field. We provide theoretical support for a picture of a non-trivially correlated dimer ground state, which accounts for the appreciable reduction of the magnetic moment at high temperatures observed in experiment, thereby resolving a long-standing puzzle. We predict the static spin structure factor as well as the emergence of magnetisation plateaus at high values of an external magnetic field, explore the nature of the quantum states in them, and study their melting with increasing temperature. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-91f06cc6b7c64a6e9f6a4990218e2e02 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4443 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Communications Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-91f06cc6b7c64a6e9f6a4990218e2e022025-08-20T04:03:02ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Materials2662-44432025-08-01611910.1038/s43246-025-00904-1Tensor network analysis of the maple-leaf antiferromagnet spangolitePhilipp Schmoll0Harald O. Jeschke1Yasir Iqbal2Freie Universität Berlin, Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems and Institut für Theoretische PhysikResearch Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama UniversityDepartment of Physics and Quantum Centre of Excellence for Diamond and Emergent Materials (QuCenDiEM), Indian Institute of Technology MadrasAbstract Spangolite (Cu6Al(SO4)(OH)12Cl ⋅ 3H2O) is a hydroxy-hydrated copper sulfate mineral with a one-seventh depleted triangular lattice of Cu2+ ions in each layer. Experimental measurements revealed a non-magnetic ground state at T ~ 8 K with magnetic properties dominated by dimerization. We propose a spatially anisotropic Heisenberg model for the Cu2+ spin-1/2 degrees of freedom on this geometrically frustrated and effectively two-dimensional maple-leaf lattice, featuring five symmetry inequivalent couplings with ferromagnetic bonds on hexagons and antiferromagnetic triangular bonds. The validity of the proposed Hamiltonian is demonstrated by state-of-the-art tensor network calculations, which can assess both the nature of the ground state as well as low-temperature thermodynamics, including the effects of a magnetic field. We provide theoretical support for a picture of a non-trivially correlated dimer ground state, which accounts for the appreciable reduction of the magnetic moment at high temperatures observed in experiment, thereby resolving a long-standing puzzle. We predict the static spin structure factor as well as the emergence of magnetisation plateaus at high values of an external magnetic field, explore the nature of the quantum states in them, and study their melting with increasing temperature.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00904-1 |
| spellingShingle | Philipp Schmoll Harald O. Jeschke Yasir Iqbal Tensor network analysis of the maple-leaf antiferromagnet spangolite Communications Materials |
| title | Tensor network analysis of the maple-leaf antiferromagnet spangolite |
| title_full | Tensor network analysis of the maple-leaf antiferromagnet spangolite |
| title_fullStr | Tensor network analysis of the maple-leaf antiferromagnet spangolite |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tensor network analysis of the maple-leaf antiferromagnet spangolite |
| title_short | Tensor network analysis of the maple-leaf antiferromagnet spangolite |
| title_sort | tensor network analysis of the maple leaf antiferromagnet spangolite |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00904-1 |
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