Experimental realization of a 2D fractional quantum spin liquid

Phys Rev Lett. 2001 Feb 12;86(7):1335-8. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.1335.

Abstract

The ground-state ordering and dynamics of the two-dimensional S = 1/2 frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnet Cs(2)CuCl(4) are explored using neutron scattering in high magnetic fields. We find that the dynamic correlations show a highly dispersive continuum of excited states, characteristic of the resonating valence bond state, arising from pairs of S = 1/2 spinons. Quantum renormalization factors for the excitation energies (1.65) and incommensuration (0.56) are large.