{
  "abstract": "The bond-dependent anisotropic Kitaev interactions are the key for the Kitaev model, which has attracted intense interest for its potential to host quantum-spin-liquid states and fractional excitations. However, experimental realizations of such interactions remain scarce. Here, we investigate the magnetic excitations of NiI$_2$, a van der Waals magnet with spin $S=1$. By combining inelastic neutron scattering, magnetization measurements, magnetic structure analysis, first-principles calculations, and linear-spin-wave simulations, we identify a minimal model that features substantial Kitaev and off-diagonal $Γ$ interactions, which together stabilize the canted magnetic ground state and open a gap in the spin-wave spectrum. Notably, these interactions arise from strong spin-orbit coupling on the ligand ions, despite the quenched orbital moment of the magnetic Ni$^{2+}$ ions. Our results provide compelling experimental evidence for the ligand-driven Kitaev mechanism. This demonstrates a concrete pathway to generating strong bond-dependent anisotropy in systems where the magnetic ions themselves have weak spin-orbit coupling, thereby substantially broadening the range of potential Kitaev materials.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "Journal reference: Phys. Rev. B 114, L080405 (2026)",
  "arxiv": "2607.14893",
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Hao Xu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Weiqin Zhu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shufan Cheng"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yanyan Shangguan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Song Bao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Junbo Liao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bo Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zihang Song"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shuai Dong"
    },
    {
      "name": "Maofeng Wu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Stanislav E. Nikitin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Travis J. Williams"
    },
    {
      "name": "Changsong Xu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jinsheng Wen"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/39y4rmtc6d03s.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2607.14893",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "39y4rmtc6d03s",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.14893",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.str-el"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3104|Advanced Condensed Matter Physics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7169689084",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2607.14893",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-07-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/39y4rmtc6d03s.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:41Z",
      "native_id": "2607.14893",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.14893"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.str-el",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Sizable Ligand-Mediated Bond-Dependent Interactions in a Spin-1 Triangular Antiferromagnet NiI$_2$",
  "title_text": "Sizable Ligand-Mediated Bond-Dependent Interactions in a Spin-1 Triangular Antiferromagnet NiI_2",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/39y4rmtc6d03s",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": [
    {
      "doi": "10.1103/7rr7-8cxr",
      "pid": null,
      "relation": "published-as",
      "title": null,
      "venue": null
    }
  ]
}