English

Topological and magnetic phases with strong spin-orbit coupling on the hyperhoneycomb lattice

Strongly Correlated Electrons 2014-06-11 v1

Abstract

We study the general phase diagram of correlated electrons for iridium-based (Ir) compounds on the hyperhoneycomb lattice---a crystal structure where the Ir4+^{4+} ions form a three-dimensional network with three-fold coordination recently realized in the β\beta-Li2{}_{2}IrO3{}_{3} compound. Using a combination of microscopic derivations, symmetry analysis, and density functional calculations, we determine the general model for the electrons occupying the jeff=1/2j_{\text{eff}}=1/2 orbitals at the Ir4+^{4+} sites. In the non-interacting limit, we find that this model allows for both topological and trivial electronic band insulators along with metallic states. The effect of Hubbard-type electron-electron repulsion on the above electronic structure in stabilizing q=0\mathbf{q}=\mathbf{0} magnetic order reveals a phase diagram with continuous phase transition between a topological band insulator and a Neel ordered magnetic insulator.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1402.2654,
  title  = {Topological and magnetic phases with strong spin-orbit coupling on the hyperhoneycomb lattice},
  author = {Eric Kin-Ho Lee and Subhro Bhattacharjee and Kyusung Hwang and Heung-Sik Kim and Hosub Jin and Yong Baek Kim},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1402.2654},
  year   = {2014}
}

Comments

11 pages, 7 figures