Strong Kitaev Interaction in BaCo_2⁢(AsO₄)₂

The inelastic neutron scattering results and their analysis unequivocally point to a dominant Kitaev interaction in the honeycomb-lattice cobaltate BaCo₂⁢(AsO₄)₂. Our anisotropic-exchange model closely describes all available neutron scattering data in the material’s field-polarized phase. Furthermore, the density-matrix renormalization group results for our model are in close accord with the unusual double-zigzag magnetic order and the low in-plane saturation field of BaCo₂⁢(AsO₄)₂.. Authors: Maksimov, Pavel A. [Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Moscow region (Russia); M. N. Mikheev Institute of Metal Physics of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg (Russia)] (ORCID:0000000192647888); Jiang, Shengtao [SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford University, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000329870846); Regnault, L. P. [Institut Laue Langevin (France); CEA-Grenoble (France)] (ORCID:000000024786299X); Chernyshev, A. L. [University of California, Irvine, CA (United States)] (ORCID:000000030965568X). DOE Contract: AC02-76SF00515; SC0021221. Subjects: 75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; Antiferromagnetism; Antiferromagnets; Density matrix methods; Density matrix renormalization group; Exchange interaction; Frustrated magnetism; Holstein-Primakoff method; Inelastic neutron scattering; Insulators; Kitaev materials; Kitaev model; Kitaev-Heisenberg model; Linear spin wave theory; Magnetic insulators; Magnetic interactions; Magnetic order; Magnetic phase transitions; Magnetic systems; Magnetism; Magnons; Many-body tec