Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study of entangled spin-orbital excitations in superconducting PrFeAsO0.7

T. Nomura, Y. Harada, H. Niwa, K. Ishii, M. Ishikado, S. Shamoto, and I. Jarrige
Phys. Rev. B 94, 035134 – Published 14 July 2016

Abstract

Low-energy electron excitation spectra were measured on a single crystal of a typical iron-based superconductor PrFeAsO0.7 using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at the FeL3 edge. Characteristic RIXS features are clearly observed around 0.5, 1–1.5, and 2–3 eV energy losses. These excitations are analyzed microscopically with theoretical calculations using a 22-orbital model derived from first-principles electronic structure calculation. Based on the agreement with the experiment, the RIXS features are assigned to Fe-d orbital excitations which, at low energies, are accompanied by spin flipping and dominated by Fe dyz and dxz orbital characters. Furthermore, our calculations suggest dispersive momentum dependence of the RIXS excitations below 0.5 eV, and predict remarkable splitting and merging of the lower-energy excitations in momentum space. Those excitations, which were not observed in the present experiment, highlight the potential of RIXS with an improved energy resolution to unravel new details of the electronic structure of the iron-based superconductors.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 28 December 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.94.035134

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

T. Nomura1,*, Y. Harada2, H. Niwa3, K. Ishii1, M. Ishikado4, S. Shamoto5, and I. Jarrige6

  • 1National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, SPring-8, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
  • 2Institute for Solid State Physics (ISSP), University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
  • 3Division of Physics, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan
  • 4Research Center for Neutron Science and Technology, Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society (CROSS), Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan
  • 5Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan
  • 6National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, 11973, USA

  • *nomurat@spring8.or.jp

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 94, Iss. 3 — 15 July 2016

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×