Stripe antiferromagnetic ground state of the ideal triangular lattice compound KErSe2

Rare-earth triangular lattice materials have been proposed as a good platform for the investigation of frustrated magnetic ground states. KErSe2, with the delafossite structure, contains perfect two-dimensional Er3+ triangular layers separated by potassium ions, realizing this ideal configuration and inviting study. Here we investigate the magnetism of KErSe2 at millikelvin temperatures by heat capacity and neutron powder diffraction. Heat capacity results reveal a magnetic transition at 0.2 K in zero applied field. This long-range order is suppressed by an applied magnetic field of 0.5 T below 0.08 K. Neutron powder diffraction suggests that the zero-field magnetic structure orders with k = (1/2, 0, 1/2) in a stripe spin structure. Unexpectedly, Er is found to have a reduced moment of 3.06(1)mu(B)/Er in the ordered state, and diffuse magnetic scattering, which originates at higher temperatures, is found to persist in the ordered state, potentially indicating magnetic fluctuations. Neutron diffraction collected under an applied field shows a metamagnetic transition at similar to 0.5 T to ferromagnetic order with k = (0, 0, 0) and two possible structures, which are likely dependent on the applied field direction. The zero-field stripe spin structure can be explained by the anisotropic interactions or the first-, second-, and third-neighbor couplings in the antiferromagnetic triangular lattice.

Automated summary

The rare-earth triangular lattice material KErSe2 exhibits magnetic transition at 0.2 K in zero applied field, with long-range order suppressed by a magnetic field. Neutron powder diffraction indicates a stripe spin structure in the ordered state, with Er having a reduced moment of 3.06(1)mu(B)/Er and persistent diffuse magnetic scattering potentially indicating magnetic fluctuations. Additionally, neutron diffraction under an applied field shows a metamagnetic transition to ferromagnetic order at around 0.5 T.