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Main Authors: Mehio, Omar, Han, Yuchen, Li, Xinwei, Ning, Honglie, Porter, Zach, Wilson, Stephen D., Hsieh, David
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.05565
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author Mehio, Omar
Han, Yuchen
Li, Xinwei
Ning, Honglie
Porter, Zach
Wilson, Stephen D.
Hsieh, David
author_facet Mehio, Omar
Han, Yuchen
Li, Xinwei
Ning, Honglie
Porter, Zach
Wilson, Stephen D.
Hsieh, David
contents Two-dimensional Mott insulators host antiferromagnetic (AFM) correlations that are predicted to enhance the attractive interaction between empty (holons) and doubly occupied (doublons) sites, creating a novel pathway for exciton formation. However, experimental confirmation of this spin-mediated binding mechanism remains elusive. Leveraging the distinct magnetic critical properties of the Mott antiferromagnets Sr$_2$IrO$_4$ and Sr$_3$Ir$_2$O$_7$, we show using time-resolved THz spectroscopy that excitons only exist at temperatures below where short-range AFM correlation develops. The excitons remain stable up to photodoping densities approaching the predicted excitonic Mott insulator-to-metal transition, revealing a unique robustness against screening. Our results establish the viability of spin-bound excitons and introduce opportunities for excitonic control through magnetic degrees of freedom.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_05565
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Observation of excitons bound by antiferromagnetic correlations
Mehio, Omar
Han, Yuchen
Li, Xinwei
Ning, Honglie
Porter, Zach
Wilson, Stephen D.
Hsieh, David
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Two-dimensional Mott insulators host antiferromagnetic (AFM) correlations that are predicted to enhance the attractive interaction between empty (holons) and doubly occupied (doublons) sites, creating a novel pathway for exciton formation. However, experimental confirmation of this spin-mediated binding mechanism remains elusive. Leveraging the distinct magnetic critical properties of the Mott antiferromagnets Sr$_2$IrO$_4$ and Sr$_3$Ir$_2$O$_7$, we show using time-resolved THz spectroscopy that excitons only exist at temperatures below where short-range AFM correlation develops. The excitons remain stable up to photodoping densities approaching the predicted excitonic Mott insulator-to-metal transition, revealing a unique robustness against screening. Our results establish the viability of spin-bound excitons and introduce opportunities for excitonic control through magnetic degrees of freedom.
title Observation of excitons bound by antiferromagnetic correlations
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.05565