Absence of Magnetic Long Range Order in Ba3ZnRu2O9: A Spin-Liquid Candidate in the S = 3/2 Dimer Lattice

We have discovered a novel candidate for a spin liquid state in a ruthenium oxide composed of dimers of S = 3/2 spins of Ru5+, Ba3ZnRu2O9. This compound lacks a long range order down to 37 mK, which is a temperature 5000-times lower than the magnetic interaction scale of around 200 K. Partial substitution for Zn can continuously vary the magnetic ground state from an antiferromagnetic order to a spin-gapped state through the liquid state. This indicates that the spin-liquid state emerges from a delicate balance of inter- and intra-dimer interactions, and the spin state of the dimer plays a vital role. This unique feature should realize a new type of quantum magnetism.