Triple-q Order in <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>Na</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>Co</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>TeO</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>6</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math> from Proximity to Hidden-SU(2)-Symmetric Point
Wilhelm G. F. Krüger, Wenjie Chen, Xianghong Jin, Yuan Li, Lukas Janssen
Abstract
In extended Heisenberg-Kitaev-Gamma-type spin models, hidden-SU(2)-symmetric points are isolated points in parameter space that can be mapped to pure Heisenberg models via nontrivial duality transformations. Such points generically feature quantum degeneracy between conventional single-$\mathbf{q}$ and exotic multi-$\mathbf{q}$ states. We argue that recent single-crystal inelastic neutron scattering data place the honeycomb magnet ${\mathrm{Na}}_{2}{\mathrm{Co}}_{2}{\mathrm{TeO}}_{6}$ in proximity to such a hidden-SU(2)-symmetric point. The low-temperature order is identified as a triple-$\mathbf{q}$ state arising from the N\'eel antiferromagnet with staggered magnetization in the out-of-plane direction via a 4-sublattice duality transformation. This state naturally explains various distinctive features of the magnetic excitation spectrum, including its surprisingly high symmetry and the dispersive low-energy and flat high-energy bands. Our result demonstrates the importance of bond-dependent exchange interactions in cobaltates, and illustrates the intriguing magnetic behavior resulting from them.