No Arabic abstract
We use the LDA+U method to study the possibility of exciton condensation in perovskites of transition metals with $d^6$ electronic configuration such as LaCoO$_3$. For realistic interaction parameters we find several distinct solutions exhibiting spin-triplet exciton condensate, which gives rise to a local spin density distribution while the ordered moments are vanishingly small. Rhombohedral distortion from the ideal cubic structure suppresses the ordered state, contrary to the spin-orbit coupling which enhances the excitonic condensation energy. We explain the trends observed in the numerical simulations with the help of a simplified strong-coupling model. Our results indicate that LaCoO$_3$ is close to the excitonic instability and suggest ways to make it order.
We combine several numerical and semi-analytical methods to study the $5d$ double perovskites Sr2YIRO6 and Ba2YIRO6 which were recently proposed to exhibit excitonic magnetism. Starting from the density functional theory and constrained random phase approximation we construct effective multi-band Hubbard models. These are analyzed by means of static and dynamical mean-field theories and strong coupling expansion. We find both materials to be insulators, but, contrary to the experimental claims, with a large spin gap of several hundreds meV preventing formation of an ordered state at low temperature
Cubic double perovskites that host heavy ions with total angular momentum J = 2 can exhibit a singular magnetic state epitomized by a lone octupole and bulk ferro-type magnetism. It exists in the Chen - Balents Hamiltonian with a quadrupole interaction and competing exchange forces between the ions. Our symmetry inspired analysis mirrors the Dzyaloshinskii - Manko theory of latent antiferromagnetic ordering, and a 3-k collinear structure. Experimental tests of the singular state include neutron and x-ray Bragg diffraction.
We present a comprehensive experimental study of magnetization and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in double perovskite (DP) materials $R_2$NiMnO$_6$ with $R =$ Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, and Dy. While a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition, with T$_{rm C}$ in the range $sim 100 - 200~$K, is a common feature that can be attributed to the ordering of Mn$^{4+}$ and Ni$^{2+}$ magnetic moments, qualitatively distinct behavior depending on the choice of $R$ is observed at low temperatures. These low-temperature anomalies in magnetization are also manifest in the change in magnetic entropy, $-Delta S_{M}$, whose sign depends on the choice of $R$. In order to understand these results, we present theoretical analysis based on mean-field approximation and Monte Carlo simulations on a minimal spin model. The model correctly captures the key features of the experimental observations.
We show how strongly correlated materials could be described within the framework of an excitonic insulator formalism, and delineate the relationship between inter- and intra-band ordering phenomena. Our microscopic model of excitons clarifies the fundamental role of Van-Hove-singularity-nesting in driving both inter- and intra-band ordering transitions, and uncovers an interesting connection with resonating-valence-bond physics.
Fifteen parameters characterizing the crystal field of rare-earth ions in the RMO$_3$ perovskites (R = Pr, Nd, M = Ga, Co) are calculated by expanding the local Hamiltonian expressed in the basis of Wannier functions into a series of spherical tensor operators. The method contains a single adjustable parameter that characterizes the hybridization of R($4f$) states with the states of oxygen ligands. Subsequently the energy levels and magnetic moments of trivalent R ion are determined by diagonalization of an effective Hamiltonian which, besides the crystal field, contains the $4f$ electron-electron repulsion, spin-orbit coupling and interaction with magnetic field. In the Ga compounds the energy levels of the ground multiplet agree within few meV with those determined experimentally by other authors. For all four compounds in question the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility is measured on polycrystalline samples and compared with the results of calculation. For NdGaO$_3$ theory is also compared with the magnetic measurements on a single crystal presented by Luis {it et al.} Phys. Rev. B {bf 58}, 798 (1998). A good agreement between the experiment and theory is found.