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Title: Direct experimental observation of the molecular J eff=3/2 ground state in the lacunar spinel GaTa4Se8

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [5];  [5];  [6];  [1];  [4]
  1. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon (Korea)
  2. Chung-Ang Univ., Seoul (Korea)
  3. RIKEN, Saitama (Japan)
  4. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  5. Univ. de Nantes, Nantes cedex (France)
  6. RIKEN, Saitama (Japan); RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Saitama (Japan); RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science (AICS), Hyogo (Japan)

Strong spin-orbit coupling lifts the degeneracy of t2g orbitals in 5d transition-metal systems, leaving a Kramers doublet and quartet with effective angular momentum of Jeff = 1/2 and 3/2, respectively. These spin-orbit entangled states can host exotic quantum phases such as topological Mott state, unconventional superconductivity, and quantum spin liquid. The lacunar spinel GaTa4Se8 was theoretically predicted to form the molecular Jeff = 3/2 ground state. Experimental verification of its existence is an important first step to exploring the consequences of the Jeff = 3/2 state. Here, we report direct experimental evidence of the Jeff = 3/2 state in GaTa4Se8 by means of excitation spectra of resonant inelastic x-rays scattering at the Ta L3 and L2 edges. In conclusion, we found that the excitations involving the Jeff = 1/2 molecular orbital were absent only at the Ta L2 edge, manifesting the realization of the molecular Jeff = 3/2 ground state in GaTa4Se8.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities Division; RIKEN; National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF); Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1413991
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Vol. 8, Issue 1; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 26 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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