Anisotropic interactions opposing magnetocrystalline anisotropy in Sr${}_3$NiIrO${}_6$

Abstract

We report our investigation of the electronic and magnetic excitations of Sr${}_3$NiIrO${}_6$ by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the Ir L${}_3$ edge. The intra-$t_{2g}$ electronic transitions are analyzed using an atomic model, including spin-orbit coupling and trigonal distortion of the IrO${}_6$ octahedron, confronted to {\it ab initio} quantum chemistry calculations. The Ir spin-orbital entanglement is quantified and its implication on the magnetic properties, in particular in inducing highly anisotropic magnetic interactions, is highlighted. These are included in the spin-wave model proposed to account for the dispersionless magnetic excitation that we observe at 90 meV. By counterbalancing the strong Ni${}^{2+}$ easy-plane anisotropy that manifests itself at high temperature, the anisotropy of the interactions finally leads to the remarkable easy-axis magnetism reported in this material at low temperature.

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• Crystal field splitting and correlation effect on the electronic structure of A2IrO3
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• Nearly itinerant electronic groundstate in the intercalated honeycomb iridate Ag${}_3$LiIr${}_2$O${}_6$
• Zeeman interaction and Jahn-Teller effect in ${\Gamma }_8$ multiplet
• Possibility to realize spin-orbit-induced correlated physics in iridium fluorides
• How spin-orbital entanglement depends on the spin-orbit coupling in a Mott insulator
• $\tilde{J}$-pseudospin states and the crystal field of cubic systems
• Nature of the Magnetic Interactions in Sr${}_3$NiIrO${}_6$
• Correlated Paramagnetism and Interplay of Magnetic and Phononic Degrees of Freedom in 3d-5d Coupled La2CuIrO6
• Spin-lattice and electron-phonon coupling in 3$d$/5$d$ hybrid Sr${}_3$NiIrO${}_6$
• Neutron Scattering Investigation of Rhenium Orbital Ordering in $3d-5d$ Double Perovskite Ca${}_2$FeReO${}_6$
• Magnetic ground state and excitations in mixed 3$d$-4$d$ quasi-1D spin-chain oxide Sr${}_3$NiRhO${}_6$