Proximate Kitaev Quantum Spin Liquid Behaviour in {\alpha}-RuCl$_3$

Understand

Topological states of matter such as quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are of great interest because of their remarkable predicted properties including protection of quantum information and the emergence of Majorana fermions.

• Such QSLs, however, have proven difficult to identify experimentally.
• The most promising approach is to study their exotic nature via the wave-vector and intensity dependence of their dynamical response in neutron scattering.
• A major search has centered on iridate materials which are proposed to realize the celebrated Kitaev model on a honeycomb lattice - a prototypical topological QSL system in two dimensions (2D).