Neutrons Reveal Unexpected Magnetism in Rare-Earth Alloy (IMAGE)

DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Neutrons Reveal Unexpected Magnetism in Rare-Earth Alloy

Caption

This illustration shows the one-dimensional Yb ion chain in the quantum magnet Yb2Pt2Pb. The Yb orbitals are depicted as the iso-surfaces, and the green arrows indicate the antiferromagnetically aligned Yb magnetic moments. The particular overlap of the orbitals allows the Yb moments to hop between the nearest and next nearest neighbors along the chain direction, resulting in the two and four spinon excitations.

Credit

ORNL/Genevieve Martin

Usage Restrictions

Image credit: ORNL/Genevieve Martin

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.