Signatures of Hund${}^{\prime }s$ metal physics in single-layered 3d transition metal oxide, $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_2\mathrm{Co}{\mathrm{O}}_4$

Abstract

With density functional theory plus dynamical mean-field theory, we study the influence of Hund's coupling on the nature of electronic correlations in $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_2\mathrm{Co}{\mathrm{O}}_4$. Our results suggest strong signatures of Hund's metal physics in this compound. The Co 3$d$ states show large orbital differentiation in the degree of correlations and mass enhancement. The imaginary-time correlation functions suggest the presence of spin-orbital separation and large local charge fluctuations in the system. Breakdown of the Fermi-liquid picture is observed at the lowest calculated temperature for various strengths of Hund's coupling, suggesting the Fermi-liquid coherence scale lower than $\sim$100 K. Interestingly, a sudden emergence of a gapped state is noted for $e_g$ orbitals in its spectral density of states at $\sim$200 K in the vicinity of Fermi-level. Among the Co 3$d$ states 3$d_{z^2}$ and 3$d_{x^2-y^2}$ foster enlarged correlations. This study conclusively identifies $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_2\mathrm{Co}{\mathrm{O}}_4$ as the first single-layered 3$d$ transition metal oxide to be classified as Hund's metal.