electric control of the structural properties of spin-orbit coupled 5<i>d</i> iridate Sr<sub>2</sub>IrO<sub>4</sub>

ORAL

Abstract

The unique competition between spin-orbit interactions (SOI) and Coulomb correlation in 5d elements compounds drives unusual physical behaviors. Due to the entanglement of spin and orbital degrees of freedom, the form of magnetic interactions depends on the underlying lattice geometry. In the case square-lattice Sr2IrO4, the Hamiltonian is governed by an isotropic Heisenberg plus a dipolar-like anisotropy term and leads to a weak canted antiferromagnetic order. Recent bulk measurement identified a novel coupling between the applied electric current and the canted IrO6 octahedra. This drives a large nonlinear structural response closely tracking the magnetization. Neutron diffraction study on the structural evolution reveals an anomalous response of local IrO6 distortion with respect to the applied electric current in the basal plane. Our results indicate the combination of SOI and the canted antiferromagnetic order provides a new paradigm for simultaneous electric control of the physics properties.

*Research at ORNL’s SNS was sponsored by the Scientific User Facilities Division, Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The work at U Colorado was supported by the National Science Foundation via grant DMR-1712101.

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Presenters

  • Feng Ye

    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryOak Ridge, Tennessee 37381, USA
    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN 37831
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Authors

  • Feng Ye

    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryOak Ridge, Tennessee 37381, USA
    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN 37831
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Christina Hoffmann

    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryOak Ridge, Tennessee 37381, USA
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Wei Tian

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Jieming Sheng

    • Physics Department, Renmin University of China

  • Hengdi Zhao

    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder CO 80309
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder
    • University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Hao Zheng

    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder CO 80309
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder
    • University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Gang Cao

    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado-Boulder
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder CO 80309
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder
    • Physics and Astronomy, University of Kentucky
    • University of Colorado, Boulder
    • University of Colorado Boulder