First-order melting of a weak spin-orbit Mott insulator into a correlated metal

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DOIResolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.257203
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  1. National Research Council Canada. Security and Disruptive Technologies
FormatText
TypeArticle
Journal titlePhysical Review Letters
ISSN0031-9007
1079-7114
Volume114
Issue25
SubjectMagnetic susceptibility; Phase separation Antiferromagnetics; Electronic phase diagram; First-order melting; La substitutions; Mott insulators; Nano-scale phase separation; Spin susceptibility; Structural distortions
Abstract
The electronic phase diagram of the weak spin-orbit Mott insulator (Sr₁−xLax)₃Ir₂O₇ is determined via an exhaustive experimental study. Upon doping electrons via La substitution, an immediate collapse in resistivity occurs along with a narrow regime of nanoscale phase separation comprised of antiferromagnetic, insulating regions and paramagnetic, metallic puddles persisting until x≈0.04. Continued electron doping results in an abrupt, first-order phase boundary where the Néel state is suppressed and a homogenous, correlated, metallic state appears with an enhanced spin susceptibility and local moments. As the metallic state is stabilized, a weak structural distortion develops and suggests a competing instability with the parent spin-orbit Mott state.
Publication date
PublisherAmerican Physical Society
LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
NPARC number23001058
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Record created2016-12-06
Record modified2020-02-06
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