Antiferromagnetic Kitaev Interactions in Polar Spin-Orbit Mott Insulators

Abstract

A bond-directional anisotropic exchange interaction, called the Kitaev interaction, is a promising route to realize quantum spin liquids. The Kitaev interactions were found in Mott insulators with the strong spin-orbit coupling, in the presence of quantum interference between indirect electron transfers. Here we theoretically propose a different scenario by introducing a polar structural asymmetry that unbalances the quantum interference. We show that the imbalance activates additional exchange processes and gives rise to a dominant antiferromagnetic Kitaev interaction, in stark contrast to the conventional ferromagnetic ones. We demonstrate by ab initio calculations that polar Ru trihalides with multiple anions, $\alpha$-RuH${}_{3/2}{X}_{3/2}$ ($X$=Cl and Br), exhibit the antiferromagnetic Kitaev interaction whose magnitude is several times larger compared to existing candidates. Our proposal opens the way for materializing the Kitaev spin liquids in unexplored parameter regions.

arXiv comment8 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables

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• Magnetic Field Induced Spin Liquids in S=1 Kitaev Honeycomb Model
• Scanning tunneling spectroscopy of Majorana zero modes in a Kitaev spin liquid
• Electronic and magnetic properties of iridium ilmenites $A$IrO${}_3$ ($A=$ Mg, Zn, and Mn)
• Generic Field-Driven Phenomena in Kitaev Spin Liquids: Canted Magnetism and Proximate Spin Liquid Physics
• Field stability of Majorana spin liquids in antiferromagnetic Kitaev models
• Electric-field control of magnetic anisotropies: applications to Kitaev spin liquids and topological spin textures
• Spin excitation continuum to topological magnon crossover and thermal Hall conductivity in Kitaev magnets
• Quantum many-body scars in spin-1 Kitaev chain with uniaxial single-ion anisotropy
• $J=1/2$ Pseudospins and $d$-$p$ Hybridization in the Kitaev Spin Liquid Candidates Ru$X_3$ ($X$ = Cl, Br, I)
• Spin Seebeck Effect as a Probe for Majorana Fermions in Kitaev Spin Liquids
• Unraveling the magnetic ground-state in alkali-metal lanthanide oxide Na${}_2$PrO${}_3$
• Possible Realization of Kitaev Spin Liquids in van der Waals Heterostructures of $\alpha$-RuCl${}_3$ and Cr$X_3$ ($X$=Cl and I)
• Vortex creation and control in the Kitaev spin liquid by local bond modulations