ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal
This is a page describing data taken during an experiment at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. Information about the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source can be found at https://www.isis.stfc.ac.uk.
Identifying the Quantum Spin Liquid in Herbertsmithite with Neutron Diffraction
Abstract: Herbertsmithite is a leading candidate to host a quantum spin liquid (QSL) -- a long sought state of matter featuring long-range quantum entanglement and fractionalised 'spinon' excitations. However, despite two decades' work, definitive evidence remains lacking. One complicating factor is that the material features significant disorder in the form of magnetic impurities. Recently the PI developed a theoretical model in which these impurities can act as 'witnesses' to probe the QSL [1]. Despite having only one free parameter, the model was able to explain a range of new experimental results, as well as earlier neutron scattering data at 2K. However, unfortunately, both candidate QSLs in Herbertsmithite, Z2 and U(1), gave qualitatively similar predictions for previous experiments. Hence the model could not distinguish the two possibilities to give a definitive ruling on the form of the QSL. In subsequent theoretical modelling, the PI's student has found that at 100mK the two QSLs give qualitatively different predictions for the neutron structure factor, with an additional broad peak appearing in the U(1) scattering in HHL. This offers a straightforward route to finally unambiguously identifying the QSL in Herbertsmithite, a task that has been pursued for two decades. [1] https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.11678 (accepted to Nature Physics)
Principal Investigator: Dr Felix Flicker
Local Contact: Dr Pascal Manuel
DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2620146
ISIS Experiment Number: RB2620146
| Part DOI | Instrument | Public release date | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2620146-1 | WISH | 02 December 2029 | Download |
Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation
The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research
publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher],
[doi]
For Example:
Dr Felix Flicker et al; (2026): Identifying the Quantum Spin Liquid in Herbertsmithite with Neutron Diffraction, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2620146
Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.
