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Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 047208 (2011) [4 pages]

Unconventional Magnetism in a Nitrogen-Containing Analog of Cupric Oxide

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A. Zorko1,2, P. Jeglič1,2, A. Potočnik1, D. Arčon1,3, A. Balčytis4, Z. Jagličić5,6, X. Liu7, A. L. Tchougréeff7,8, and R. Dronskowski7
1Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
2EN–FIST Centre of Excellence, Dunajska 156, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
3Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
4Institute of Applied Research, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
5Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Mechanics, Jadranska 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
6Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Jamova 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
7Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, D-52056 Aachen, Germany
8Poncelet Laboratory, Independent University of Moscow, Moscow Center for Continuous Mathematical Education, Moscow, Russia

Received 9 May 2011; revised 27 June 2011; published 22 July 2011

We have investigated the magnetic properties of CuNCN, the first nitrogen-based analog of cupric oxide CuO. Our muon-spin relaxation, nuclear magnetic resonance, and electron-spin resonance studies reveal that classical magnetic ordering is absent down to the lowest temperatures. However, a large enhancement of spin correlations and an unexpected inhomogeneous magnetism have been observed below 80 K. We attribute this to a peculiar fragility of the electronic state against weak perturbations due to geometrical frustration, which selects between competing spin-liquid and more conventional frozen states.

© 2011 American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.047208
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.047208
PACS:
75.10.Kt, 76.30.-v, 76.60.-k, 76.75.+i
 
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