Muon investigations of magnetsm in the frustrated material LiYbO2.*

Muon Spin Relaxation (µSR) has long been a preferred technique for examining the ground state of potential quantum spin liquid (QSL) candidates, as it is a local probe that is capable of discriminating between ordered and disordered magnetism, as well as static and dynamic magnetism. Recently there has been interest in LiYbO2, whose Jeff=1/2 moments are predicted to be frustrated. Recently published neutron diffraction experiments, along with theory, suggest that this material may instead experience an unusual form of incommensurate magnetic order, consisting of two phase-shifted sublattices. We performed µSR measurements and show that near 1 Kelvin the system transitions from a non-magnetic state to a strongly magnetic disordered state consistent with the unusual incommensurate order suggested by neutron diffraction. Additionally, we find evidence for weak dynamics, suggesting some fraction of the system may not magnetically order and instead remains in a frustrated state.