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Signatures of polarized chiral spin disproportionation in rare earth nickelates

Author

Listed:
  • Jiarui Li

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Robert J. Green

    (University of Saskatchewan
    University of British Columbia)

  • Claribel Domínguez

    (University of Geneva)

  • Abraham Levitan

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Yi Tseng

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Sara Catalano

    (University of Geneva)

  • Jennifer Fowlie

    (University of Geneva)

  • Ronny Sutarto

    (Canadian Light Source)

  • Fanny Rodolakis

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Lucas Korol

    (University of Saskatchewan)

  • Jessica L. McChesney

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • John W. Freeland

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Dirk Marel

    (University of Geneva)

  • Marta Gibert

    (Vienna University of Technology)

  • Riccardo Comin

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

In rare earth nickelates (RENiO3), electron-lattice coupling drives a concurrent metal-to-insulator and bond disproportionation phase transition whose microscopic origin has long been the subject of active debate. Of several proposed mechanisms, here we test the hypothesis that pairs of self-doped ligand holes spatially condense to provide local spin moments that are antiferromagnetically coupled to Ni spins. These singlet-like states provide a basis for long-range bond and spiral spin order. Using magnetic resonant X-ray scattering on NdNiO3 thin films, we observe the chiral nature of the spin-disproportionated state, with spin spirals propagating along the crystallographic (101)ortho direction. These spin spirals are found to preferentially couple to X-ray helicity, establishing the presence of a hitherto-unobserved macroscopic chirality. The presence of this chiral magnetic configuration suggests a potential multiferroic coupling between the noncollinear magnetic arrangement and improper ferroelectric behavior as observed in prior studies on NdNiO3 (101)ortho films and RENiO3 single crystals. Experimentally-constrained theoretical double-cluster calculations confirm the presence of an energetically stable spin-disproportionated state with Zhang-Rice singlet-like combinations of Ni and ligand moments.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiarui Li & Robert J. Green & Claribel Domínguez & Abraham Levitan & Yi Tseng & Sara Catalano & Jennifer Fowlie & Ronny Sutarto & Fanny Rodolakis & Lucas Korol & Jessica L. McChesney & John W. Freelan, 2024. "Signatures of polarized chiral spin disproportionation in rare earth nickelates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-51576-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51576-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. T. H. Kim & D. Puggioni & Y. Yuan & L. Xie & H. Zhou & N. Campbell & P. J. Ryan & Y. Choi & J.-W. Kim & J. R. Patzner & S. Ryu & J. P. Podkaminer & J. Irwin & Y. Ma & C. J. Fennie & M. S. Rzchowski & , 2016. "Polar metals by geometric design," Nature, Nature, vol. 533(7601), pages 68-72, May.
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