Possibility to realize spin-orbit-induced correlated physics in iridium fluorides

Abstract

Recent theoretical predictions of "unprecedented proximity" of the electronic ground state of iridium fluorides to the SU(2) symmetric $j_{\mathrm{eff}}=1/2$ limit, relevant for superconductivity in iridates, motivated us to investigate their crystal and electronic structure. To this aim, we performed high-resolution x-ray powder diffraction, Ir L${}_3$-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, and quantum chemical calculations on Rb${}_2$[IrF${}_6$] and other iridium fluorides. Our results are consistent with the Mott insulating scenario predicted by Birol and Haule [Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 096403 (2015)], but we observe a sizable deviation of the $j_{\mathrm{eff}}=1/2$ state from the SU(2) symmetric limit. Interactions beyond the first coordination shell of iridium are negligible, hence the iridium fluorides do not show any magnetic ordering down to at least 20 K. A larger spin-orbit coupling in iridium fluorides compared to oxides is ascribed to a reduction of the degree of covalency, with consequences on the possibility to realize spin-orbit-induced strongly correlated physics in iridium fluorides.

References in corpus (12)

• Mott Insulators in the Strong Spin-Orbit Coupling Limit: From Heisenberg to a Quantum Compass and Kitaev Models
• Novel Jeff = 1/2 Mott State Induced by Relativistic Spin-Orbit Coupling in Sr2IrO4
• Twisted Hubbard Model for Sr2IrO4: Magnetism and Possible High Temperature Superconductivity
• Hyper-honeycomb iridate $\beta$-Li2IrO3 as a platform for Kitaev magnetism
• Fermi Arcs in a Doped Pseudospin-1/2 Heisenberg Antiferromagnet
• Crystal field splitting and correlation effect on the electronic structure of A2IrO3
• Monte Carlo study of an unconventional superconducting phase in Ir-oxide J_{eff}=1/2 Mott insulators induced by carrier doping
• Excitonic quasiparticles in a spin-orbit Mott insulator
• Magnetic anisotropy in the Kitaev model systems Na2IrO3 and RuCl3
• Testing the validity of the strong spin-orbit-coupling limit for octahedrally coordinated iridates in a model system Sr${}_3$CuIrO${}_6$
• $J_{eff}=1/2$ Mott Insulating State in Rh and Ir Fluorides
• Crystal field splitting in Sr${}_{n+1}$Ir${}_n$O${}_{3n+1}$ ($n$ = 1, 2) iridates probed by x-ray Raman spectroscopy

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Resonant inelastic x-ray incarnation of Young's double-slit experiment
• Cubic symmetry and magnetic frustration on the $fcc$ spin lattice in K${}_2$IrCl${}_6$
• Revisiting the Kitaev material candidacy of Ir4+ double perovskite iridates
• Hopping induced ground-state magnetism in 6H perovskite iridates
• Toward cubic symmetry for Ir${}^{4+}$: structure and magnetism of antifluorite K${}_2$IrBr${}_6$