The physics of mutual interaction of phonon quasiparticles with electronic spin degrees of freedom, leading to unusual transport phenomena of spin and heat, has been a subject of continuing interests for decades. Despite its pivotal role in transport processes, the effect of spin-phonon coupling on the phonon system, especially acoustic phonon properties, has so far been elusive. By means of inelastic neutron scattering and first-principles calculations, anomalous scattering spectral intensity from acoustic phonons was identified in the exemplary collinear antiferromagnetic nickel (II) oxide, unveiling strong spin-lattice correlations that renormalize the polarization of acoustic phonon. In particular, a clear magnetic scattering signature of the measured neutron scattering intensity from acoustic phonons is demonstrated by its momentum transfer and temperature dependences. The anomalous scattering intensity is successfully modeled with a modified magneto-vibrational scattering cross-section, suggesting the presence of spin precession driven by phonon. The renormalization of phonon eigenvector is indicated by the observed “geometry-forbidden” neutron scattering intensity from transverse acoustic phonon. Importantly, the eigenvector renormalization cannot be explained by magnetostriction but instead, it could result from the coupling between phonon and local magnetization of ions.
Sun, Qiyang, et al. "Mutual spin-phonon driving effects and phonon eigenvector renormalization in nickel (II) oxide." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 119, no. 29, Jul. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2120553119
Sun, Qiyang, Wei, Bin, Su, Yaokun, Smith, Hillary L., Lin, Jiao Y. Y., Abernathy, Douglas L., & Li, Chen (2022). Mutual spin-phonon driving effects and phonon eigenvector renormalization in nickel (II) oxide. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119(29). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2120553119
Sun, Qiyang, Wei, Bin, Su, Yaokun, et al., "Mutual spin-phonon driving effects and phonon eigenvector renormalization in nickel (II) oxide," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 119, no. 29 (2022), https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2120553119
@article{osti_1976008,
author = {Sun, Qiyang and Wei, Bin and Su, Yaokun and Smith, Hillary L. and Lin, Jiao Y. Y. and Abernathy, Douglas L. and Li, Chen},
title = {Mutual spin-phonon driving effects and phonon eigenvector renormalization in nickel (II) oxide},
annote = {The physics of mutual interaction of phonon quasiparticles with electronic spin degrees of freedom, leading to unusual transport phenomena of spin and heat, has been a subject of continuing interests for decades. Despite its pivotal role in transport processes, the effect of spin-phonon coupling on the phonon system, especially acoustic phonon properties, has so far been elusive. By means of inelastic neutron scattering and first-principles calculations, anomalous scattering spectral intensity from acoustic phonons was identified in the exemplary collinear antiferromagnetic nickel (II) oxide, unveiling strong spin-lattice correlations that renormalize the polarization of acoustic phonon. In particular, a clear magnetic scattering signature of the measured neutron scattering intensity from acoustic phonons is demonstrated by its momentum transfer and temperature dependences. The anomalous scattering intensity is successfully modeled with a modified magneto-vibrational scattering cross-section, suggesting the presence of spin precession driven by phonon. The renormalization of phonon eigenvector is indicated by the observed “geometry-forbidden” neutron scattering intensity from transverse acoustic phonon. Importantly, the eigenvector renormalization cannot be explained by magnetostriction but instead, it could result from the coupling between phonon and local magnetization of ions.},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2120553119},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1976008},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
issn = {ISSN 0027-8424},
number = {29},
volume = {119},
place = {United States},
publisher = {National Academy of Sciences},
year = {2022},
month = {07}}
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Spallation Neutron Source (SNS)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1976008
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Issue: 29 Vol. 119; ISSN 0027-8424
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 764https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2014.07.029