A Spin-Orbital Singlet and Quantum Critical Point on the Diamond Lattice: FeSc2S4
Abstract
We present a theory of spin and orbital physics in the A-site spinel compound FeSc2S4, which experimentally exhibits a broad "spin-orbital liquid" regime. A spin-orbital Hamiltonian is derived from a combination of microscopic consideration and symmetry analysis. We demonstrate a keen competition between spin-orbit interactions, which favor formation of a local "Spin-Orbital Singlet" (SOS), and exchange, which favors magnetic and orbital ordering. Separating the SOS from the ordered state is a quantum critical point (QCP). We argue that FeSc2S4 is close to this QCP on the SOS side. The full phase diagram of the model includes a commensurate-incommensurate transition within the ordered phase. A variety of comparison to and suggestion for experiments are discussed.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.0810.0577,
title = {A Spin-Orbital Singlet and Quantum Critical Point on the Diamond Lattice: FeSc2S4},
author = {Gang Chen and Leon Balents and Andreas P. Schnyder},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0810.0577},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
4+ pages, 2 figures, minor corrections