(C_5H_9NH_3)_2CuBr_4: a metal-organic two-ladder quantum magnet

Low-dimensional quantum magnets are a versatile materials platform for studying the emergent many-body physics and collective excitations that can arise even in systems with only short-range interactions. Understanding their low-temperature structure and spin Hamiltonian is key to explaining their magnetic properties, including unconventional quantum phases, phase transitions, and excited states. We study the metal-organic coordination compound (C_5H_9NH_3)_2CuBr_4 and its deuterated counterpart, which upon its discovery was identified as a candidate two-leg quantum (S = 1/2) spin ladder in the strong-leg coupling regime. By growing large single crystals and probing them with both bulk and microscopic techniques, we deduce that two previously unknown structural phase transitions take place between 136 K and 113 K. The low-temperature structure has a monoclinic unit cell giving rise to two inequivalent spin ladders. We further confirm the absence of long-range magnetic order down to 30 mK and discuss the implications of this two-ladder structure for the magnetic properties of (C_5H_9NH_3)_2CuBr_4.