Nag, AbhishekMiddey, S.Bhowal, SayantikaPanda, S. K.Mathieu, RolandOrain, J. C.Bert, F.Mendels, P.Freeman, P. G.Mansson, M.Rønnow, Henrik M.Telling, M.Biswas, P. K.Sheptyakov, D.Kaushik, S. D.Siruguri, VasudevaMeneghini, CarloSarma, D. D.Dasgupta, IndraRay, Sugata2016-04-012016-04-012016-04-01201610.1103/PhysRevLett.116.097205https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/125270WOS:000371419600016We show using detailed magnetic and thermodynamic studies and theoretical calculations that the ground state of Ba3ZnIr2O9 is a realization of a novel spin-orbital liquid state. Our results reveal that Ba3ZnIr2O9 with Ir5+ (5d(4)) ions and strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) arrives very close to the elusive J = 0 state but each Ir ion still possesses a weak moment. Ab initio density functional calculations indicate that this moment is developed due to superexchange, mediated by a strong intradimer hopping mechanism. While the Ir spins within the structural Ir2O9 dimer are expected to form a spin-orbit singlet state (SOS) with no resultant moment, substantial frustration arising from interdimer exchange interactions induce quantum fluctuations in these possible SOS states favoring a spin-orbital liquid phase down to at least 100 mK.MPBHtext::journal::journal article::research article