Sr ₂ IrO ₄ : Gateway to cuprate superconductivity?

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · APL Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4921953· OSTI ID:1356980

Mitchell, J. F.

To understand the varied magnetic and electronic properties of 3d transition metal oxides (TMO), we routinely invoke a separability among charge-, spin- and orbital degrees of freedom, tightly coupled yet distinct sectors that can be identified, measured, and understood individually. But something interesting happens on the way down the Periodic Table—relativistic spin-orbit coupling (SOC) grows progressively stronger, blurring the lines among these spin, charge, and orbital sectors. SOC forces us to consider a different conceptual framework for 4d, and particularly 5d TMO systems, than has been sufficient for our present day understanding of 3d analogs. Ironically, this rethinking needed for 5d oxides may turn out to be critical to our understanding of one of 3d TMO’s greatest treasures – cuprate superconductivity — and in the process may lead us on a pathway to discovery of a new class of high-Tc materials.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science - Office of Basic Energy Sciences - Materials Sciences and Engineering Division
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1356980
• Journal Information: APL Materials, Vol. 3, Issue 6; ISSN 2166-532X
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics (AIP)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English