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Dual Orbital Degeneracy Lifting in a Strongly Correlated Electron System

ORAL

Abstract

The local structure of NaTiSi2O6 is examined across its Ti-dimerization orbital-assisted Peierls transition at 210 K. An atomic pair distribution function approach evidences local symmetry breaking preexisting far above the transition. The analysis unravels that on warming the dimers evolve into a short range orbital degeneracy lifted (ODL) state of dual orbital character, persisting up to at least 490 K. The ODL state is correlated over the length scale spanning ~6 sites of the Ti zigzag chains. Results imply that the ODL phenomenology extends to strongly correlated electron systems.

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Presenters

  • Robert Koch

    Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory

Authors

  • Robert Koch

    Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Ryan P Sinclair

    University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee

  • Marshall McDonnell

    Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Runze Yu

    Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Milinda Abeykoon

    Photon Sciences Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Matt Tucker

    Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Alexei Tsvelik

    Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Lab, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Simon L Billinge

    Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University

  • Haidong Zhou

    Dep. Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Tenessee, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University of Tennessee, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee

  • Weiguo Yin

    Brookhaven National Laboratory, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Emil Bozin

    Brookhaven National Laboratory, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory