Three-dimensional zigzag correlations in the van der Waals Kitaev magnet RuBr$_3$

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gretarsson, H., Iwazaki, R., Sato, F., Gotou, H., Francoual, S., Nasu, J., Imai, Y., Ohgushi, K., Chaloupka, J., Keimer, B., Suzuki, H.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Gretarsson, H.
Iwazaki, R.
Sato, F.
Gotou, H.
Francoual, S.
Nasu, J.
Imai, Y.
Ohgushi, K.
Chaloupka, J.
Keimer, B.
Suzuki, H.
author_facet Gretarsson, H.
Iwazaki, R.
Sato, F.
Gotou, H.
Francoual, S.
Nasu, J.
Imai, Y.
Ohgushi, K.
Chaloupka, J.
Keimer, B.
Suzuki, H.
contents Ruthenium trihalides Ru$X_3$ ($X$ = Cl, Br, I) provide a tunable platform for Kitaev magnetism in two-dimensional van der Waals materials. Despite their similar crystal structures and zigzag antiferromagnetic order, RuBr$_3$ exhibits a higher Néel temperature ($T_N$) than RuCl$_3$, suggesting their distinct proximity to the Kitaev quantum spin liquid phase. Using Ru $L_3$-edge resonant x-ray scattering, we show that, while the long-range zigzag order in RuBr$_3$ disappears at $T_N$, the zigzag correlations that persist well above $T_N$ show a pronounced spectral weight redistribution along the interlayer direction. These results suggest that the enhanced interlayer magnetic interactions driven by the extended Br 4$p$ orbitals stabilize three-dimensional zigzag correlations in RuBr$_3$.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_05346
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Three-dimensional zigzag correlations in the van der Waals Kitaev magnet RuBr$_3$
Gretarsson, H.
Iwazaki, R.
Sato, F.
Gotou, H.
Francoual, S.
Nasu, J.
Imai, Y.
Ohgushi, K.
Chaloupka, J.
Keimer, B.
Suzuki, H.
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Ruthenium trihalides Ru$X_3$ ($X$ = Cl, Br, I) provide a tunable platform for Kitaev magnetism in two-dimensional van der Waals materials. Despite their similar crystal structures and zigzag antiferromagnetic order, RuBr$_3$ exhibits a higher Néel temperature ($T_N$) than RuCl$_3$, suggesting their distinct proximity to the Kitaev quantum spin liquid phase. Using Ru $L_3$-edge resonant x-ray scattering, we show that, while the long-range zigzag order in RuBr$_3$ disappears at $T_N$, the zigzag correlations that persist well above $T_N$ show a pronounced spectral weight redistribution along the interlayer direction. These results suggest that the enhanced interlayer magnetic interactions driven by the extended Br 4$p$ orbitals stabilize three-dimensional zigzag correlations in RuBr$_3$.
title Three-dimensional zigzag correlations in the van der Waals Kitaev magnet RuBr$_3$
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.05346