We study the spectral function of a single hole doped into the (a,b) plane of the Mott insulator LaVO$_3$, with antiferromagnetic (AF) spin order of S=1 spins accompanied by alternating orbital (AO) order of active $\{d_{yz},d_{zx}\}$ orbitals. Starting from the respective t-J model, with spin-orbital superexchange and effective three-site hopping terms, we derive the polaron Hamiltonian and show that a hole couples simultaneously to the collective excitations of the AF/AO phase, magnons and orbitons. Next, we solve this polaron problem using the self-consistent Born approximation and find a stable quasiparticle solution -- a spin-orbital polaron. We show that the spin-orbital polaron resembles the orbital polaron found in $e_g$ systems, as e.g. in K$_2$CuF$_4$ or (to some extent) in LaMnO$_3$, and that the hole may be seen as confined in a string-like potential. However, the spins also play a crucial role in the formation of this polaron -- we explain how the orbital degrees of freedom: (i) confine the spin dynamics acting on the hole as the classical Ising spins, and (ii) generate the string potential which is of the joint spin-orbital character. Finally, we discuss the impact of the results presented here on the understanding of the phase diagrams of the lightly doped cubic vanadates.
We show that spin-orbit coupling (SOC) plays Janus-faced roles on the orbitally-selective Mott transitions in a three-orbital Hubbard model with crystal field splitting at a specific filling of $2/3$, which is a minimal Hamiltonian for ruthenates. While the SOC favors metallic state due to enhancement of orbital hybridization at smaller on-site Coulomb repulsions, it stabilizes the Mott insulating state ascribed to lifting of orbital degeneracies and enhancement of band polarizations at larger electronic interaction. Moreover, an orbitally-selective non-Fermi liquid (OSnFL), where breakdown an…
Motivated by recent neutron, X-ray absorption and resonant scattering experiments, we revisit the electronic structure of V2O3. We propose a model in which S=1 V3+ ions are coupled in the vertical V-V pairs forming two-fold orbitally degenerate configurations with S=2. Ferro-orbital ordering of the V-V pairs gives a description which is consistent with all experiments in the antiferromagnetic insulating phase.
We calculate Auger spectra given by the two-hole Green's function from orbitally degenerate Hubbard-like models as a function of correlation strength and band filling. The resulting spectra are qualitatively different from those obtained from fully-filled singly degenerate models due to the presence of screening dynamics and multielectron excitations. Application to a real system shows remarkable agreement with experimental results leading to reinterpretation of spectral features.
Neutron scattering was used to determine the spin structure and the magnon spectrum of the Mott--Hubbard insulator YTiO$_3$. The magnetic structure is complex, comprising substantial G-type and A-type antiferromagnetic components in addition to the predominant ferromagnetic component. The magnon spectrum, on the other hand, is gapless and nearly isotropic. We show that these findings are inconsistent with the orbitally ordered states thus far proposed for YTiO$_3$ and discuss general implications for a theoretical description of exchange interactions in orbitally degenerate systems.
We investigate the magnetic instabilities of the two-dimensional model of interacting e_g electrons for hole doping away from two electrons per site in the mean-field approximation. In particular, we address the occurrence of orbitally polarized states due to the inequivalent orbitals, and their interplay with ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spin order. The role played by the Hund's exchange coupling J_H and by the crystal field orbital splitting E_z in stabilizing one of the competing phases is discussed in detail.
Possibility of a novel pseudo-scalar (octupole) order is studied theoretically for orbitally degenerate systems with strong spin-orbit coupling such as Ce$_x$La$_{1-x}$B$_6$. It is discussed that coexistence of an octupole order parameter and antiferromagnetic fluctuation should lead to drastic softening of the elastic constant by a mode-mixing effect. Nonlinear coupling between dipole, quadrupole and octupole fluctuations is taken into account in terms of a Ginzburg-Landau-type functional which is derived microscopically through path integral.
We study the phase diagram of a twofold orbitally degenerate Anderson impurity model which presents a non-trivial fixed point similar to the two-impurity Kondo model one. Remarkably, this fixed point is more robust than the latter one, since it can only be destabilized by orbital or gauge symmetry breaking. The impurity model is interesting per se, but here our interest is rather in the possibility that it might be representative of the behavior of a strongly-correlated lattice model close to a Mott transition. We argue that this lattice model should unavoidably encounter the non-trivial fixed…
We criticize the model proposed by Mila et al. (Phys.Rev.Lett. 85 (2000) 1714) for the description of the V3+ ion in V2O3 by pointing out that it is completely artificial because the condition about the degenerate (doublet) orbital ground state required for the authors' model cannot be realized in the reality. We claim that the V3+ ion should be considered as described by the quantum numbers S=1 and L=3 and with taking into account the orbital moment and the intra-atomic spin-orbit coupling. PACS: 71.70.E, 75.10.D
Magnetic susceptibility in a heavy fermion systemis composed of the Pauli term (χ_P) and the Van-Vleck term (χ_V). The latter comes from the interband excitation, where f-orbital degeneracy is essential. In this work, we study χ_P and χ_V in the orbitally degenerate (J=5/2) periodic Anderson model for both the metallic and insulating cases. The effect of the correlation between f-electrons is investigated using the self-consistent second-order perturbation theory. The main results are as follows. (i) Sixfold degenerate model: both χ_P and χ_V are enhanced by a factor of 1/z (z is the renormali…
We present a comprehensive angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of Ca$_{1.8}$Sr$_{0.2}$RuO$_4$. Four distinct bands are revealed and along the Ru-O bond direction their orbital characters are identified through a light polarization analysis and comparison to dynamical mean-field theory calculations. Bands assigned to $d_{xz}, d_{yz}$ orbitals display Fermi liquid behavior with fourfold quasiparticle mass renormalization. Extremely heavy fermions - associated with a predominantly $d_{xy}$ band character - are shown to display non-Fermi-liquid behavior. We thus demonstrate that Ca$_{1…
The magnetic properties of NaVO2 are investigated using full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method. We perform calculations for three structures. For the rhombohedral structure at 100 K, the t2g orbitals of V ions are split into upper a1g and lower e'g orbitals by a trigonal distortion of compression. For the monoclinic structure at 91.5 K, the system behaves like a frustrated spin lattice with spatially anisotropic exchange interactions. For another monoclinic structure at 20 K, the magnetic frustration is relieved by a lattice distortion which is driven by a certain orbital orderi…
Ultrafast transient reflectivity across the unusual three-dimensional Peierls-like insulator-metal (IM) transition in CuIr_{2}S_{4} was measured as a function of temperature. The low-temperature insulating-phase transient response is dominated by broken-symmetry-induced coherent lattice oscillations that abruptly vanish at the IM transition. The coherent mode spectra are consistent with Raman spectra reported in literature. The origin of the broken-symmetry-induced is also briefly discussed.
We analyze a $t_{2g}$ double-exchange system where the orbital directionality of the itinerant degrees of freedom is a key dynamical feature that self-adjusts in response to doping and leads to a phase diagram dominated by two classes of ground-states with zigzag and checkerboard patterns. The prevalence of distinct orderings is tied to the formation of orbital molecules that in one-dimensional paths make insulating zigzag states kinetically more favorable than metallic stripes, thus allowing for a novel doping-induced metal-to-insulator transition. We find that the basic mechanism that contro…
Elementary excitations in the multipole ordered state, which models the phase III in CeB6, are investigated by means of a generalized Holstein-Primakoff formalism. When different kinds of nearest-neighbor exchange interactions between multipoles are comparable to each other, orbital-flip excitations exhibit almost one-dimensional dispersion along the z axis. With high symmetry of the interactions, zero modes appear due to the macroscopic degeneracy of the ground state. The next-nearest-neighbor dipole-dipole interaction, which stabilizes the magnetic order of the phase III in CeB6, lifts the d…
We study orbital excitations in the optical absorption spectra of YVO3 and HoVO3. We focus on an orbital absorption band observed at 0.4 eV for polarization E parallel c. This feature is only observed in the intermediate, monoclinic phase. By comparison with the local crystal-field excitations in VOCl and with recent theoretical predictions for the crystal-field levels we show that this absorption band cannot be interpreted in terms of a local crystal-field excitation. We discuss a microscopic model which attributes this absorption band to the exchange of two orbitals on adjacent sites, i.e., …
We establish a novel mechanism of stripe formation in doped systems with alternating $t_{2g}$ orbital order --- the stripe takes the form of a ferro-orbitally ordered domain wall separating domains with staggered order and allowing for deconfined motion of holes along the stripe. At a finite level of hole concentration this gives rise to the stability of this solitonic type of stripes, while we show that the phase change of the staggered order by $π$ plays a minor role in orbitally ordered systems. These results shed new light on the physics of doped materials in which orbital degeneracy is pr…
A possible mechanism of electronic phase separation in the systems with orbital ordering is analyzed. We suggest a simple model taking into account an interplay between the delocalization of charge carriers introduced by doping and the cooperative ordering of local lattice distortions. The proposed mechanism is quite similar to the double exchange usually invoked for interpretation of phase separation in doped magnetic oxides like manganites, but can be efficient even in the absence of any magnetic ordering. It is demonstrated that the delocalized charge carriers favor the formation of nanosca…
Using the self-consistent Born approximation we calculate Reiter's wavefunction for a single hole introduced into the undoped and orbitally ordered ground state of the t-J model with $t_{2g}$ orbital degrees of freedom. While the number of excitations is similar to the spin t-J model for a given J/t, a distinct structure of the calculated wavefunction and its momentum dependence is identified suggesting the formation of a novel type of mobile polarons.
The magnon dispersion in the charge, orbital and spin ordered phase in La(0.5)Sr(1.5)MnO(4) has been studied by means of inelastic neutron scattering. We find an excellent agreement with a magnetic interaction model basing on the CE-type superstructure. The magnetic excitations are dominated by ferromagnetic exchange parameters revealing a nearly-one dimensional character at high energies. The nearest neighbor ferromagnetic interaction in La(0.5)Sr(1.5)MnO(4) is significantly larger than the one in the metallic ferromagnetically ordered manganites. The large ferromagnetic interaction in the ch…
We report recent transport and thermodynamic experiments over a wide range of temperatures for the Mott-like system Ca3Ru2O7 at high magnetic fields, B, up to 30 T. This work reveals a rich and highly anisotropic phase diagram, where applying B along the a-, b-, and c-axis leads to vastly different behavior. A fully spin-polarized state via a first order metamagnetic transition is obtained for B||a, and colossal magnetoresistance is seen for B||b, and quantum oscillations in the resistivity are observed for B||c, respectively. The interplay of the lattice, orbital and spin degrees of freedom a…
The metal-insulator transition in manganites is strongly influenced by the concentration of holes present in the system. Based upon an orbitally degenerate Mott-Hubbard model we analyze two possible localization scenarios to account for this doping dependence: First, we rule out that the transition is initiated by a disorder-order crossover in the orbital sector, showing that its effect on charge mobility is only small. Second, we introduce the idea of orbital polarons originating from a strong polarization of orbitals in the vicinity of holes. Considering this direct coupling between charge a…
We discuss herein the emergence of a large entropy change in metallic Li0.33VS2 derived from the orbitally assisted loose σ bond formation. Comprehensive structural studies based on synchrotron x-ray and neutron diffraction analyses clarify the fabrication of ribbon chains at 375 K, consisting of multiple three-centered two-electron σ bonds based on the viewpoint of local chemical bonding. Although the metallic conductivity persists down to the lowest temperature measured, exceptionally large entropy change as a metal, as much as ΔS = 6.6 J/mol K, appears at the transition. Emergence of a larg…
Ultrasound velocity measurements of the orbitally-frustrated GeCo$_2$O$_4$ reveal unusual elastic instabilities due to the phonon-spin coupling within the antiferromagnetic phase. Shear moduli exhibit anomalies arising from the coupling to short-range ferromagnetic excitations. Diplike anomalies in the magnetic-field dependence of elastic moduli reveal magnetic-field-induced orbital order-order transitions. These results strongly suggest the presence of geometrical orbital frustration which causes novel orbital phenomena within the antiferromagnetic phase.
The metal-insulator transition in manganites is strongly influenced by the concentration of holes present in the system. Based upon an orbitally degenerate Mott-Hubbard model we analyze two possible localization scenarios to account for this doping dependence: First, we rule out that the transition is initiated by a disorder-order crossover in the orbital sector, showing that its effect on charge itineracy is only small. Second, we introduce the idea of orbital polarons originating from a strong polarization of orbitals in the vicinity of holes. Considering this direct coupling between charge …
We show that a Kondo-type model with an orbital degeneracy has a new non-Fermi-liquid fixed point. Near the fixed point the spin degrees of freedom are completely quenched, and the residual charge degrees of freedom lead to the multi-channel Kondo effect. Anomalous behavior appears in electric and thermal properties, but the magnetic susceptibility should show the local Fermi-liquid behavior. The non-Fermi-liquid fixed point becomes unstable against perturbations breaking the particle-hole symmetry. We derive these results using the third-order scaling for a spherically symmetric model with a …
Moiré super-potentials in two-dimensional materials allow unprecedented control of the ratio between kinetic and interaction energy. By this, they pave the way to study a wide variety of strongly correlated physics under a new light. In particular, the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising candidate "quantum simulators" of the Hubbard model on a triangular lattice. Indeed, Mott and generalized Wigner crystals have been observed in such devices. Here we theoretically propose to extend this model into the multi-orbital regime by focusing on electron doped systems at filling highe…
Using x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ru-$L_{2,3}$ edge we reveal that the Ru$^{4+}$ ions remain in the $S$=1 spin state across the rare 4d-orbital ordering transition and spin-gap formation. We find using local spin density approximation + Hubbard U (LSDA+U) band structure calculations that the crystal fields in the low temperature phase are not strong enough to stabilize the $S$=0 state. Instead, we identify a distinct orbital ordering with a significant anisotropy of the antiferromagnetic exchange couplings. We conclude that La$_{4}$Ru$_{2}$O$_{10}$ appears to be a novel material in wh…
The correlated motion of electrons in the presence of strong orbital fluctuations and correlations is investigated with respect to magnetic couplings and excitations in an orbitally degenerate ferromagnet. Introduction of the orbital degree of freedom results in a class of diagrams representing spin-orbital coupling which become particularly important near the orbital ordering instability. Low-energy staggered orbital fluctuation modes, particularly with momentum near (π/2,π/2,0) (corresponding to CE-type orbital correlations), are shown to generically yield strong intrinsically non-Heisenberg…
Orbital-lattice coupled excitation dynamics in orbitally degenerate correlated systems are examined. We present a theoretical framework, where both local vibronic excitations and superexchange-type inter-site interactions are dealt with on an equal footing. We generalize the spin-wave approximation so as to take local vibronic states into account. Present method is valid from weak to strong Jahn-Teller coupling magnitudes. Two characteristic excitation modes coexist; a low-energy dispersive mode and high-energy multi-peak mode. These are identified as a collective vibronic mode, and Flanck-Con…
Entanglement of spin and orbital Kondo effect is investigated on the basis of a Kondo-type exchange model with twofold orbital degeneracy. By using Wilson's numerical renormalization-group method, we examine dynamical and thermal properties respecting the difference in time-reversal property of multipole operators. In the presence of particle-hole symmetry, the model has a new non-Fermi-liquid fixed point with a fractional entropy. The spectral intensity of the quadrupole susceptibility diverges in the zero-frequency limit, while the dipole susceptibility shows a Fermi-liquid-like behavior. Th…
CeRhIn$_{5}$ is a Kondo-lattice prototype in which a magnetic field B$\bf{^{\ast}\simeq}$ 30 T induces an abrupt Fermi-surface (FS) reconstruction and pronounced in-plane electrical transport anisotropy all within its antiferromagnetic state. Though the antiferromagnetic order at zero field is well-understood, the origin of an emergent state at B$^{\ast}$ remains unknown due to challenges inherent to probing states microscopically at high fields. Here, we report low-temperature Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements revealing a discontinuous decrease in the $^{115}$In formal Knight shif…
We report on the pressure effects on the orbital polaron lattice in the lightly doped manganites $\mathrm{La_{1-x}Sr_xMnO_{3}}$, with $x\sim 1/8$. The dependence of the orbital polaron lattice on $negative$ chemical pressure is studied by substituting Pr for La in $\mathrm{(La_{1-y}Pr_y)_{7/8}Sr_{1/8}MnO_{3}}$. In addition, we have studied its hydrostatic pressure dependence in $\mathrm{(La_{0.9}Pr_{0.1})_{7/8}Sr_{1/8}MnO_{3}}$. Our results strongly indicate that the hopping $t$ significantly contributes to the stabilization of the orbital polaron lattice and that the orbital polarons are ferr…
We investigate the orbital effects of strong external magnetic field on the ground state properties of a two dimensional holstein polaron, employing variational approaches based on the exact diagonalization (VAED). From the ground state energy and the wave function we calculate electron-phonon correlation function, the average phonon number and the Drude weight and investigate the evolution of a 2D holstein polaron as a function of the magnetic flux. Although the external magnetic field affects the polaron throughout the parameter regime, we show that the magnetic field has a stronger effect o…
We investigated optical properties of Nd(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3 (x= 0.40, 0.50, 0.55, and 0.65) single crystals. In the spin/orbital disordered state, their conductivity spectra look quite similar, and the strength of the mid-infrared absorption peak is proportional to x(1-x) consistent with the polaron picture. As temperature lowers, the Nd(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3 samples enter into various spin/orbital ordered states, whose optical responses are quite different. These optical responses can be explained by the spin/orbital ordering pattern-dependent polaron hopping.
We study with ARPES the renormalization and quasiparticle lifetimes of the $d_{xy}$ and $d_{xz}$/$d_{yz}$ orbitals in two iron pnictides, LiFeAs and Ba(Fe$_{0.92}$Co$_{0.08}$)$_2$As$_2$ (Co8). We find that both quantities depend on orbital character rather than on the position on the Fermi Surface (for example hole or electron pocket). In LiFeAs, the renormalizations are larger for $d_{xy}$, while they are similar on both types of orbitals in Co8. The most salient feature, which proved robust against all the ARPES caveats we could think of, is that the lifetimes for $d_{xy}$ exhibit a markedly…
Short-range resonating-valence bond states in an orbitally degenerate magnet on a honeycomb lattice is studied. A quantum-dimer model is derived from the Hamiltonian which represents the superexchange interaction and the dynamical Jahn-Teller (JT) effect. We introduce two local units termed "spin-orbital singlet dimer", where two spins in a nearest-neighbor bond form a singlet state associated with an orbital polarization along the bond, and "local JT singlet", where an orbital polarization is quenched due to the dynamical JT effect. A derived quantum-dimer model consists of the hopping of the…
I review the microscopic spin-orbital Hamiltonian and ground state properties of spin one-half spinel oxides with threefold $t_{2g}$ orbital degeneracy. It is shown that for any orbital configuration a ground state of corresponding spin only Hamiltonian is infinitely degenerate in the classical limit. The extensive classical degeneracy is lifted by the quantum nature of the spins, an effect similar to order-out-of-disorder phenomenon by quantum fluctuations. This drives the system to a non-magnetic spin-singlet dimer manifold with a residual degeneracy due to relative orientation of dimers. Th…
We present a numerical treatment of a spin-orbital polaron model for Na_xCoO_2 at small hole concentration (0.7 < x < 1). We demonstrate how the polarons account for the peculiar magnetic properties of this layered compound: They explain the large susceptibility; their internal degrees of freedom lead both to a negative Curie-Weiss temperature and yet to a ferromagnetic intra-layer interaction, thereby resolving a puzzling contradiction between these observations. We make specific predictions on the momentum and energy location of excitations resulting from the internal degrees of freedom of t…
By resonant x-ray scattering at the Mn K-edge on La7/8Sr1/8MnO3, we show that an orbital polaron lattice (OPL) develops at the metal-insulator transition of this compound. This orbital reordering explains consistently the unexpected coexistence of ferromagnetic and insulating properties at low temperatures, the quadrupling of the lattice structure parallel to the MnO2-planes, and the observed polarization and azimuthal dependencies. The OPL is a clear manifestation of strong orbital-hole interactions, which play a crucial role for the colossal magnetoresistance effect and the doped manganites …
We argue that in lightly hole doped perovskite-type Mn oxides the holes (Mn$^{4+}$ sites) are surrounded by nearest neighbor Mn$^{3+}$ sites in which the occupied $3d$ orbitals have their lobes directed towards the central hole (Mn$^{4+}$) site and with spins coupled ferromagnetically to the central spin. This composite object, which can be viewed as a combined orbital-spin-lattice polaron, is accompanied by the breathing type (Mn$^{4+}$) and Jahn-Teller type (Mn$^{3+}$) local lattice distortions. We present calculations which indicate that for certain doping levels these orbital polarons may …
Despite many ARPES investigations of iron pnictides, the structure of the electron pockets is still poorly understood. By combining ARPES measurements in different experimental configurations, we clearly resolve their elliptic shape. Comparison with band calculation identify a deep electron band with the dxy orbital and a shallow electron band along the perpendicular ellipse axis with the dxz/dyz orbitals. We find that, for both electron and hole bands, the lifetimes associated with dxy are longer than for dxz/dyz. This suggests that the two types of orbitals play different roles in the electr…
It has been suggested that the metal-insulator transitions in a number of spinel materials with partially-filled t_2g d-orbitals can be explained as orbitally-driven Peierls instabilities. Motivated by these suggestions, we examine theoretically the possibility of formation of such orbitally-driven states within a simplified theoretical model, a two-dimensional checkerboard lattice with two directional metal orbitals per atomic site. We include orbital ordering and inter-atom electron-phonon interactions self-consistently within a semi-classical approximation, and onsite intra- and inter-orbit…
We discuss the ground state of the spin-orbital model for spin-one ions with partially filled $t_{2g}$ levels on a honeycomb lattice. We find that the orbital degrees of freedom induce a spontaneous dimerization of spins and drive them into nonmagnetic manifold spanned by hard-core dimer (spin-singlet) coverings of the lattice. The cooperative ``dimer Jahn-Teller'' effect is introduced through a magnetoelastic coupling and is shown to lift the orientational degeneracy of dimers leading to a peculiar valence bond crystal pattern. The present theory provides a theoretical explanation of nonmagne…
We present a mean-field theory of charge, orbital, and spin ordering in manganites at 50% and 0% dopings by considering Jahn-Teller interaction, nearest-neighbor repulsion, and no single-site double occupancy. For spinless fermions, we show that Jahn-Teller distortion and charge-orbital ordering occur simultaneously. In our two-dimensional model at 50% doping, for small nearest-neighbor repulsion the system is orbitally polarized while for larger repulsion the system undergoes CE type ordering. As for the 0% doping case, the ground state is orbitally antiferromagnetic. Upon including spin degr…
The origin of the effect of colossal magneto-resistance (CMR) remains still unexplained. In this work we revisit the spin dynamics of the pseudo-cubic La1-xSrxMnO3 along the Mn-O-Mn bond direction at four x doping values (x < 0.5) and various temperatures and report a new lattice dynamics study at x0=0.2, representative of the optimal doping for CMR. We propose an interpretation of the spin dynamics in terms of orbital polarons. This picture is supported by the observation of a discrete magnetic energy spectrum Enmag (q) characteristic of the internal excitations of "orbital polarons" defined …
We present a theoretical study of the Kadowaki-Woods relation in the orbitally degenerate periodic Anderson model. Based on Fermi liquid theory, we derive the generalized Kadowaki-Woods relation in the strong coupling limit, $Aγ^{-2} \approx 10^{-5} N(N-1)/2$ [μΩcm(mol K/mJ)^2], where $A$ is the coefficient of the $T^2$ term in the resistivity, $γ$ is the $T$-linear specific heat coefficient, and $N$ is the $f$-orbital degeneracy. This result naturally explains the remarkably smaller value of $Aγ^{-2}$ in various orbitally degenerate (mainly Yb-based) heavy Fermion systems, reported by Tsujii …
Present work demonstrates the formation of spin-orbital polarons in electron doped copper oxides, that arise due to doping-induced polarisation of the oxygen orbitals in the CuO$_2$ planes. The concept of such polarons is fundamentally different from previous interpretations. The novel aspect of spin-orbit polarons is best described by electrons becoming self-trapped in one-dimensional channels created by polarisation of the oxygen orbitals. The one-dimensional channels form elongated filaments with two possible orientations, along the diagonals of the elementary CuO$_2$ square plaquette. As t…
The layered manganese oxides LnBaMn1.96Fe0.04Oy (Ln=Y, Gd, Sm, Nd, Pr, La) have been synthesized for y=5, 5.5 and 6. In the oxygen-saturated state (y=6) they exhibit the charge and orbital order at ambient temperature for Ln=Y, Gd, Sm, but unordered eg-electronic system for Ln=La,Pr,Nd. Fourfold increase of quadrupole splitting was observed owing to the charge and orbital ordering. This is in agreement with the jumplike increase in distortion of the reduced perovskite-like cell for the charge and orbitally ordered manganites compared to the unordered ones. Substitution of 2 percents of Mn by F…
Recent experimental developments in the iron pnictides have unambiguously demonstrated the existence of in-plane electronic anisotropy in the absence of the long-range magnetic order. Such anisotropy can arise from orbital ordering, which is described by an energy splitting between the two otherwise degenerate $d_{xz}$ and $d_{yz}$ orbitals. By including this phenomenological orbital order into a five-orbital Hubbard model, we obtain the mean-field solutions where the magnetic order is determined self-consistently. Despite sensitivity of the resulting states to the input parameters, we find th…
We study an effective one-dimensional (1D) orbital t-J model derived for strongly correlated e_g electrons in doped manganites. The ferromagnetic spin order at half filling is supported by orbital superexchange prop. to J which stabilizes orbital order with alternating x^2-y^2 and 3z^2-r^2 orbitals. In a doped system it competes with the kinetic energy prop. to t. When a single hole is doped to a half-filled chain, its motion is hindered and a localized orbital polaron is formed. An increasing doping generates either separated polarons or phase separation into hole-rich and hole-poor regions, …
Static electrical and magnetic properties of single crystal BaVS_3 were measured over the structural (T_S=240K), metal-insulator (T_MI=69K), and suspected orbital ordering (T_X=30K) transitions. The resistivity is almost isotropic both in the metallic and insulating states. An anomaly in the magnetic anisotropy at T_X signals a phase transition to an ordered low-T state. The results are interpreted in terms of orbital ordering and spin pairing within the lowest crystal field quasi-doublet. The disordered insulator at T_X<T<T_MI is described as a classical liquid of non-magnetic pairs.
We report on THz time-domain spectroscopy on multiferroic GeV4S8, which undergoes orbital ordering at a Jahn-Teller transition at 30.5 K and exhibits antiferromagnetic order below 14.6 K. The THz experiments are complemented by dielectric experiments at audio and radio frequencies. We identify a low-lying excitation close to 15 cm-1, which is only weakly temperature dependent and probably corresponds to a molecular excitation within the electronic level scheme of the V4 clusters. In addition, we detect complex temperature-dependent behavior of a low-lying phononic excitation, closely linked to…
Transverse Magnetic Response from Orbitally Polarized Cooper Pairs in Elemental Superconductors
CNR-SPIN, c/o Università di Salerno(意大利国家研究委员会自旋物理中心,萨莱诺大学);Dipartimento di Fisica “E. R. Caianiello”, Università di Salerno(萨莱诺大学 E.R. 凯亚涅洛物理学系);Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics(维格纳物理学研究中心,固体物理与光学研究所)
We report on the electronic ground state of a layered perovskite vanadium oxide Sr$_2$VO$_4$ studied by the combined use of synchrotron radiation x-ray diffraction (SR-XRD) and muon spin rotation/relaxation ($μ$SR) techniques, where $μ$SR measurements were extended down to 30 mK. We found an intermediate orthorhombic phase between $T_{\rm c2} \sim$~130 K and $T_{\rm c1} \sim$~100 K, whereas a tetragonal phase appears for $T > T_{\rm c2}$ and $T < T_{\rm c1}$. The absence of long-range magnetic order was confirmed by $μ$SR at the reentrant tetragonal phase below $T_{\rm c1}$, where the relative…
We investigate the spectral properties of the two-orbital Hubbard model, including the double hopping term, by means of the dynamical mean field method. This Hamiltonian describes materials in which ferromagnetism is realized by the double exchange mechanism, like for instance manganites, nickelates or diluted magnetic semiconductors. The spectral function of the unoccupied states is characterized by a specific equidistant three peak structure. We emphasize the importance of the double hopping term on the spectral properties. We show the existence of a ferromagnetic phase due to electron dopin…
We demonstrate the stability of a spin-triplet paired s-wave (with an admixture of extended s-wave) state for the case of purely repulsive interactions in a degenerate two-band Hubbard model. We further show that near half-filling the considered kind of superconductivity can coexist with antiferromagnetism. The calculations have been carried out with the use of the so-called statistically consistent Gutzwiller approximation for the case of a square lattice. The absence of a stable paired state when analyzed in the Hartree-Fock-BCS approximation allows us to claim that the electron correlations…
We report magnetic and thermodynamic properties of a $4d^1$ (Mo$^{5+}$) magnetic insulator MoOPO$_4$ single crystal, which realizes a $J_1$-$J_2$ Heisenberg spin-$1/2$ model on a stacked square lattice. The specific-heat measurements show a magnetic transition at 16 K which is also confirmed by magnetic susceptibility, ESR, and neutron diffraction measurements. Magnetic entropy deduced from the specific heat corresponds to a two-level degree of freedom per Mo$^{5+}$ ion, and the effective moment from the susceptibility corresponds to the spin-only value. Using {\it ab initio} quantum chemistry…
We present an inelastic light scattering study of single crystalline (La$_{1-y}$Pr$_y$)$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$MnO$_3$ ($0\leq x\leq0.14$,$y=0$ and $x=1/8$,$0\leq y\leq0.5$). A giant softening up to 20 - 30 cm$^{-1}$ of the Mn-O breathing mode has been observed only for the ferromagnetic insulating (FMI) samples ($0.11\leq x \leq 0.14$) upon cooling below the Curie temperature. With increasing Pr-doping the giant softening is gradually suppressed. This is attributed to a coupling of the breathing mode to orbital polarons which are present in the FMI phase.
Iron pnictides and selenides display a variety of unusual magnetic phases originating from the interplay between electronic, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom. Using powder inelastic neutron scattering on the two-leg ladder BaFe2Se3, we fully characterize the static and dynamic spin correlations associated with the Fe4 block state, an exotic magnetic ground state observed in this low-dimensional magnet and in Rb0.89Fe1.58Se2. All the magnetic excitations of the Fe4 block state predicted by an effective Heisenberg model with localized spins are observed below 300 meV and quantitatively re…