Emergent charge order near the doping-induced Mott-insulating quantum phase transition in Sr${}_3$Ru${}_2$O${}_7$

Abstract

We investigate the double layered Sr${}_3$(Ru${}_{1-x}$Mn${}_x$)${}_2$O${}_7$ and its doping-induced quantum phase transition (QPT) from a metal to an antiferromagnetic (AFM) Mott insulator. Using spectroscopic imaging with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM), we visualize the evolution of the electronic states in real- and momentum-space. We find a partial-gap in the tunneling density of states at the Fermi energy (E${}_F$) that develops with doping to form a weak Mott insulating (Δ ~ 100meV) state. Near the QPT, we discover a spatial electronic reorganization into a commensurate checkerboard charge order. These findings share some resemblance to the well-established universal charge order in the pseudogap phase of cuprates. Our experiments therefore demonstrate the ubiquity of the incipient charge order that emanates from doped Mott insulators.

Communications Physics - nature (in press)