The spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on a Kagome lattice is
geometrically frustrated, which is expected to promote the formation of
many-body quantum entangled states. The most sought-after among these is the
quantum spin liquid phase, but magnetic analogs of liquid, solid, and
supersolid phases may also occur, producing fractional plateaus in the
magnetization. Here, we investigate the experimental realization of these
predicted phases in the Kagome material YCu3(OD)6+xBr3-x (x=0.5). By combining
thermodynamic and Raman spectroscopic techniques, we provide evidence for
fractionalized spinon excitations and observe the emergence of a 1/9
magnetization plateau. These observations establish YCu3(OD)6+xBr3-x as a model
material for exploring the 1/9 plateau phase.Comment: to appear in Nature Physics, 33 pagses, 15 figure