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arXiv:2006.09495 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B

Block orbital-selective Mott insulators: A spin excitation analysis

J. Herbrych, Gonzalo Álvarez, Adriana Moreo, Elbio R. Dagotto

Published Sep 16, 2020• 19 citations
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Abstract

We present a comprehensive study of the spin excitations---as measured by the dynamical spin structure factor $S(q,\ensuremath{\omega})$---of the so-called block-magnetic state of low-dimensional orbital-selective Mott insulators. We realize this state via both a multi-orbital Hubbard model and a generalized Kondo-Heisenberg Hamiltonian. Due to various competing energy scales present in the models, the system develops periodic ferromagnetic islands of various shapes and sizes, which are antiferromagnetically coupled. The $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2$ particular case was already found experimentally in the ladder material $\mathrm{Ba}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{Se}}_{3}$ that becomes superconducting under pressure. Here we discuss the electronic density as well as Hubbard and Hund coupling dependence of $S(q,\ensuremath{\omega})$ using density matrix renormalization group method. Several interesting features were identified: (1) An acoustic (dispersive spin-wave) mode develops. (2) The spin-wave bandwidth establishes a new energy scale that is strongly dependent on the size of the magnetic island and becomes abnormally small for large clusters. (3) Optical (dispersionless spin excitation) modes are present for all block states studied here. In addition, a variety of phenomenological spin Hamiltonians have been investigated but none matches entirely our results that were obtained primarily at intermediate Hubbard $U$ strengths. Our comprehensive analysis provides theoretical guidance and motivation to crystal growers to search for appropriate candidate materials to realize the block states, and to neutron scattering experimentalists to confirm the exotic dynamical magnetic properties unveiled here, with a rich mixture of acoustic and optical features.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.102.115134

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Using the density matrix renormalization group technique we study the effect of spin-orbit coupling on a three-orbital Hubbard model in the (t2g)4{({t}_{2g})}^{4}(t2g​)4 sector and in one dimension. Fixing the Hund coupling to a robust value compatible with some multiorbital materials, we present the phase diagram varying the Hubbard UUU and spin-orbit coupling $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, at zero temperature. Our results are shown to be qualitatively similar to those recently reported using the dynamical mean-field theory in higher dimensions, providing a robust basis to approximate many-body techniques. Among many results, we observe an interesting transition from an orbital-selective Mott phase to an excitonic insulator with increasing $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ at intermediate UUU. In the strong UUU coupling limit, we find a nonmagnetic insulator with an effective angular momentum $\ensuremath{\langle}{({\mathbf{J}}^{\mathrm{eff}})}^{2}\ensuremath{\rangle}\ensuremath{\ne}0$ near the excitonic phase, smoothly connected to the $\ensuremath{\langle}{({\mathbf{J}}^{\mathrm{eff}})}^{2}\ensuremath{\rangle}=0$ regime. We also provide a list of quasi-one-dimensional materials where the physics discussed in this paper could be realized.
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