Quantum frustration in the "spin liquid" phase of two-dimensional 3He

We have measured the ultralow temperature and low field magnetic susceptibility of the 4/7 phase of two-dimensional 3He adsorbed on graphite preplated by one layer of 4He. The experiments are performed by progressively adding 4He to the system, thus suppressing in a controlled way the 3He atoms trapped in substrate heterogeneities. This procedure enables us to determine the intrinsic properties of this spin 1/2 model magnet in the zero field limit. The results show quantitatively that the system is strongly frustrated by multiple spin exchange interactions. A characteristic gapped spin liquid behavior is observed at ultralow temperature.