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The Kitaev quantum spin liquid (KQSL) is an exact solvable exotic state with bond-directional interactions in a honeycomb lattice [1]. Its potential applications in quantum information field attract a lot of attention. So far only a few KQSL candidates are available, such as honeycomb lattices α-RuCl₃ and Na₂IrO₃ with strong spin-orbital coupling 4d (Ru) and 5d (Ir) elements [2-4]. All these lattices show the long-range zig-zag magnetic order at low temperature instead of KQSL states. Recently we found a new Kitaev candidate, the rare-earth honeycomb lattice YbCl₃ with an effective spin-1/2, which presents a short-range magnetic order around 1.2 K and another kink at 0.6 K [7]. We investigated the magnetic ground state and magnetic anisotropy of YbCl₃ using unpolarized/polarized neutron diffraction techniques, which will be the focus of the presentation.

[1] A. Kitaev, Ann. Phys. (NY) 321, 2 (2006)
[2] F. Ye, et al., Phys. Rev. B 85, 180403(R) (2012).
[3] A. Banerjee, et al., Nat. Mater., 15, 733 (2016).
[4] H.B. Cao, et al., Phys. Rev. B 93, 134423 (2016).
[5] J. Xing, et al., arXiv:1903.03615 (2019)