Thermal conductivity of pure and Zn-doped LiCu2O2 single crystals

We report a study of the low-temperature thermal conductivity (kappa) of pure and Zn-doped LiCu2O2 single crystals. The kappa(T) of pure LiCu2O2 single crystal shows a double-peak behavior, with two peaks located at 48 K and 14 K, respectively. The different dependences of the peaks on the Zn concentration indicate that the high-T peak is likely due to the phonon transport while the low-T one is attributed to the magnon transport in the spin spiral ordering state. In addition, the magnetic field can gradually suppress the low-T peak but does not affect the high-T one; this further confirms that the low-T peak is originated from the magnon heat transport.