Spin-orbit fluctuations in frustrated heavy-fermion metal LiV${}_2$O${}_4$

Abstract

Spin fluctuations were studied over a wide momentum ($\hslash Q$) and energy ($E$) space in the frustrated $d$-electron heavy-fermion metal LiV${}_2$O${}_4$ by time-of-flight inelastic neutron scattering. We observed the overall $Q$$-$$E$ evolutions near the characteristic $Q=0.6$ Ã ${}^{-1}$ peak and found another weak broad magnetic peak around 2.4 Ã ${}^{-1}$. The data are described by a simple response function, a highly itinerant magnetic form factor, and antiferromagnetic short-range spatial correlations, indicating that heavy-fermion formation is attributable to spin-orbit fluctuations with orbital hybridization.

5 pages, 3 figures