Coexistence of a nearly spin-singlet state and antiferromagnetic long-range order in quantum spin system Cu₂CdB₂O₆

A 1/2 magnetization plateau in magnetic fields above 23 T and antiferromagnetic (AF) long-range order (AFLRO) in low fields were found in Cu$_2$CdB$_2$O$_6$. Experimental results agree with quantum Monte Carlo results for an expected spin system. There are two kinds of Cu sites [Cu(1) and Cu(2)], which are located adjacent to each other. Unexpectedly, spins on the Cu(1) and Cu(2) sites are in a nearly spin-singlet state and form AFLRO, respectively, although interactions between the Cu(1) and Cu(2) spins cannot be ignored. Cu$_2$CdB$_2$O$_6$ is the first material which shows such coexistence in an atomic scale.