Competing Ordering Modes in the Distorted Quantum Kagome Material Clinoatacamite Cu 2 Cl ( OH ) 3
Abstract
We have studied the magnetic properties of clinoatacamite Cu_{2}Cl(OH)_{3}, the parent compound of the quantum spin liquid candidate herbertsmithite and a long-standing puzzle among frustrated quantum magnets. As we reveal using density-functional theory, clinoatacamite belongs to the class of distorted kagome antiferromagnets with the kagome plane being embedded into a low-symmetry crystal structure. By means of thermodynamic measurements, muon spin rotation and relaxation, as well as neutron diffraction on single crystals, we find in zero magnetic field complex behavior below T_{I}=18.1 K which unfolds in three temperature regions I-III. We propose this complexity in multicritical clinoatacamite to arise from the competition of antiferromagnetic ordering modes from the underconstrained manifold of modes, which can lead to a metamagnetic texture in zero field.
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BibTeX
@article{stodter2026competing,
title = {{Competing Ordering Modes in the Distorted Quantum Kagome Material Clinoatacamite Cu 2 Cl ( OH ) 3}},
author = {L. Stödter and C. Kastner and H. O. Jeschke and M. Reehuis and E. Chan and M.-H. Lemée-Cailleau and K. Beauvois and B. Ouladdiaf and F. Yokaichiya and Fabrice Bert and T. J. Hicken and J. A. Krieger and H. Luetkens and J. L. Allen and R. Feyerherm and M. Tovar and D. Menzel and A. U. B. Wolter and B. Büchner and K. C. Rule and F. J. Litterst and U. K. Rößler and S. Süllow},
journal = {Physical Review Letters},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1103/xmh8-68vk},
eprint = {2601.21024},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05794762v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Competing Ordering Modes in the Distorted Quantum Kagome Material Clinoatacamite Cu 2 Cl ( OH ) 3
AU - L. Stödter
AU - C. Kastner
AU - H. O. Jeschke
AU - M. Reehuis
AU - E. Chan
AU - M.-H. Lemée-Cailleau
AU - K. Beauvois
AU - B. Ouladdiaf
AU - F. Yokaichiya
AU - Fabrice Bert
AU - T. J. Hicken
AU - J. A. Krieger
AU - H. Luetkens
AU - J. L. Allen
AU - R. Feyerherm
AU - M. Tovar
AU - D. Menzel
AU - A. U. B. Wolter
AU - B. Büchner
AU - K. C. Rule
AU - F. J. Litterst
AU - U. K. Rößler
AU - S. Süllow
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/08
JO - Physical Review Letters
DO - 10.1103/xmh8-68vk
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05794762v1
AB - We have studied the magnetic properties of clinoatacamite Cu_{2}Cl(OH)_{3}, the parent compound of the quantum spin liquid candidate herbertsmithite and a long-standing puzzle among frustrated quantum magnets. As we reveal using density-functional theory, clinoatacamite belongs to the class of distorted kagome antiferromagnets with the kagome plane being embedded into a low-symmetry crystal structure. By means of thermodynamic measurements, muon spin rotation and relaxation, as well as neutron diffraction on single crystals, we find in zero magnetic field complex behavior below T_{I}=18.1 K which unfolds in three temperature regions I-III. We propose this complexity in multicritical clinoatacamite to arise from the competition of antiferromagnetic ordering modes from the underconstrained manifold of modes, which can lead to a metamagnetic texture in zero field.
SN - 0031-9007
SN - 1079-7114
ER -