Antiferromagnetic S=1/2 Spin Chain Driven by p-Orbital Ordering in CsO2

作者:Riyadi Syarif*; Zhang Baomin; de Groot Robert A; Caretta Antonio; van Loosdrecht Paul H M; Palstra Thomas T M; Blake Graeme R
来源:Physical Review Letters, 2012, 108(21): 217206.
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.217206

摘要

We demonstrate, using a combination of experiment and density functional theory, that orbital ordering drives the formation of a one-dimensional (1D) S = 1/2 antiferromagnetic spin chain in the 3D rocksalt structure of cesium superoxide (CsO2). The magnetic superoxide anion (O-2(-)) exhibits degeneracy of its 2p-derived molecular orbitals, which is lifted by a structural distortion on cooling. A spin chain is then formed by zigzag ordering of the half-filled superoxide orbitals, promoting a superexchange pathway mediated by the pz orbitals of Cs+ along only one crystal direction. This scenario is analogous to the 3d-orbital-driven spin chain found in the perovskite KCuF3 and is the first example of an inorganic quantum spin system with unpaired p electrons.

  • 出版日期2012-5-25