From J_eff=1/2 Insulator to p-Wave Superconductor in Single-Crystal Sr₂Ir_1−xRu_xO4 (0≤x≤1)

Authors

Shujuan Yuan, University of KentuckyFollow
Saicharan Aswartham, University of KentuckyFollow
Jsaminka Terzic, University of KentuckyFollow
H. Zheng, University of Kentuck
H. D. Zhao, University of Kentucky
P. Schlottmann, Florida State University
Gang Cao, University of KentuckyFollow

Abstract

Sr₂IrO₄ is a magnetic insulator assisted by strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) whereas Sr₂RuO₄ is a p-wave superconductor. The contrasting ground states have been shown to result from the critical role of the strong SOC in the iridate. Our investigation of structural, transport, and magnetic properties reveals that substituting 4dRu⁴⁺(4d⁴) ions for 5dIr⁴⁺(5d⁵) ions in Sr₂IrO₄ directly adds holes to the t_2g bands, reduces the SOC, and thus rebalances the competing energies in single-crystal Sr₂Ir_1−xRu_xO₄. A profound effect of Ru doping driving a rich phase diagram is a structural phase transition from a distorted I4₁/acd to a more ideal I4/mmm tetragonal structure near x=0.50 that accompanies a phase transition from an antiferromagnetic-insulating state to a paramagnetic-metal state. We also make a comparison with Rh-doped Sr₂IrO₄, highlighting important similarities and differences.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-15-2015

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Physical Review B, v. 92, no. 24, article 245103, p. 1-6.

©2015 American Physical Society

The copyright holders have granted the permission for posting the article here.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.245103

Funding Information

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation via Grant No. DMR-1265162 and by the Department of Energy (BES) through Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER45707 (P.S.).

Repository Citation

Yuan, Shujuan; Aswartham, Saicharan; Terzic, Jsaminka; Zheng, H.; Zhao, H. D.; Schlottmann, P.; and Cao, Gang, "From J_eff=1/2 Insulator to p-Wave Superconductor in Single-Crystal Sr₂Ir_1−xRu_xO4 (0≤x≤1)" (2015). Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications. 385.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/physastron_facpub/385