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.

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Cited by in corpus (13)

• Fingerprints of Kitaev physics in the magnetic excitations of honeycomb iridates
• Spin-orbit entangled j=1/2 moments in Ba${}_2$CeIrO${}_6$ -- a frustrated fcc quantum magnet
• 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
• Structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of nearly-ideal $J_{\mathrm{eff}}$ $=$ 1/2 iridium halides
• Multiple Spin-Orbit Excitons and the Electronic Structure of $\alpha$-RuCl${}_3$
• Nearly itinerant electronic groundstate in the intercalated honeycomb iridate Ag${}_3$LiIr${}_2$O${}_6$
• Toward cubic symmetry for Ir${}^{4+}$: structure and magnetism of antifluorite K${}_2$IrBr${}_6$
• Quasimolecular electronic structure of the spin-liquid candidate Ba${}_3$InIr${}_2$O${}_9$
• RIXS interferometry and the role of disorder in the quantum magnet Ba${}_3$Ti${}_{3-x}$Ir${}_x$O${}_9$
• Spin-orbital-lattice entanglement in the ideal j=1/2 compound K${}_2$IrCl${}_6$