Three-Magnon Bound States in the Quasi-One-Dimensional Antiferromagnet α-NaMnO2

Published

May 14, 2020

Author(s)

Rebecca L Dally, Alvin J. R. Heng, Anna Keselman, Mitchell M. Bordelon, Matthew B. Stone, Leon Balents, Stephen D. Wilson

Abstract

Here we report on the formation of two and three magnon bound states in the quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnet α-NaMnO₂, where the single-ion, uniaxial anisotropy inherent to the Mn³⁺ ions in this material provides a binding mechanism capable of stabilizing higher order magnon bound states. While such states have long remained elusive in studies of antiferromagnetic chains, neutron scattering data presented here demonstrate that higher order Η > 2 composite magnons exist, and, specifically, that a weak three-magnon bound state is detected below the antiferromagnetic ordering transition of NaMnO₂. We corroborate our findings with exact numerical simulations of a one-dimensional Heisenberg chain with easy-axis anisotropy using matrix-product state techniques, finding a good quantitative agreement with the experiment. These results establish α-NaMnO₂ as a unique platform for exploring the dynamics of composite magnon states inherent to a classical antiferromagnetic spin chain with Ising-like single ion anisotropy.

Citation

Physical Review Letters

Volume

124

Issue

19

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

neutron scattering, magnons, frustrated magnetism

Citation

, R. , R., A. , Keselman, A. , , M. , , M. , Balents, L. and , S. (2020), Three-Magnon Bound States in the Quasi-One-Dimensional Antiferromagnet α-NaMnO₂, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=929651 (Accessed April 18, 2024)