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Two-dimensional Heisenberg behavior of J(eff)=1/2 isospins in the paramagnetic state of the spin-orbital Mott
S Fujiyama1, H Ohsumi, T Komesu
1RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, Wako 351-0198, Japan. fujiyama@riken.jp
Abstract:
The dynamical correlations of J(eff)=1/2 isospins in the paramagnetic state of spin-orbital Mott insulator Sr2IrO4 were revealed by resonant magnetic x-ray diffuse scattering. We found a two-dimensional antiferromagnetic fluctuation with a large in-plane correlation length exceeding 100 lattice spacings at even 20 K above the magnetic ordering temperature. In marked contrast to the naive expectation of the strong magnetic anisotropy associated with an enhanced spin-orbit coupling, we discovered an isotropic isospin correlation that is well described by the two-dimensional S=1/2 quantum Heisenberg model. The estimated antiferromagnetic coupling constant as large as J∼0.1 eV that is comparable to the small Mott gap (<0.5 eV) points out the weak and marginal Mott character of this spin-orbital entangled system.
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