Effect of spin-orbit coupling on spin and orbital ordering in Sr$_{n+1}$Cr$_n$O$_{3n+1}$, $n=1,2$

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Fanjul, Cristian, Aligia, A. A.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Fanjul, Cristian
Aligia, A. A.
author_facet Fanjul, Cristian
Aligia, A. A.
contents We incorporate spin-orbit coupling (SOC) into effective Kugel-Khomskii models for the $n=1$ and $n=2$ members of the Ruddlesden-Popper series Sr$_{n+1}$Cr$_n$O$_{3n+1}$. These model contain interacting spins 1 and pseudospins 1/2 at each site describing spin and orbitals degrees of freedom respectively. We solve the models at zero temperature using pseudospin bond operators and spin waves. We find that for realistic parameters, SOC dominates the physics of the compound Sr$_{2}$CrO$_{4}$ with almost decoupled single CrO$_2$ planes. The spin ordering is antiferromagnetic, with nearest-neighbor Cr spins aligned antiparallel. The corresponding orbital configuration is $d_{xy \uparrow }^{1}(d_{xz\uparrow }^{1}-id_{yz\uparrow }^{1})$ or $d_{xy \downarrow }^{1}(d_{xz\downarrow }^{1}+id_{yz\downarrow }^{1})$ depending on the spin of the site. In contrast, for the bilayer compound Sr$_{3}$Cr$_{2}$O$_{7}$ we find that the effect of the SOC is weak and the system prefers to form pseudospin singlets in the $z$ direction perpendicular to the planes. The spin order is antiferromagnetic within each plane and ferromagnetic between planes, in agreement with previous studies.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_28904
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Effect of spin-orbit coupling on spin and orbital ordering in Sr$_{n+1}$Cr$_n$O$_{3n+1}$, $n=1,2$
Fanjul, Cristian
Aligia, A. A.
Strongly Correlated Electrons
We incorporate spin-orbit coupling (SOC) into effective Kugel-Khomskii models for the $n=1$ and $n=2$ members of the Ruddlesden-Popper series Sr$_{n+1}$Cr$_n$O$_{3n+1}$. These model contain interacting spins 1 and pseudospins 1/2 at each site describing spin and orbitals degrees of freedom respectively. We solve the models at zero temperature using pseudospin bond operators and spin waves. We find that for realistic parameters, SOC dominates the physics of the compound Sr$_{2}$CrO$_{4}$ with almost decoupled single CrO$_2$ planes. The spin ordering is antiferromagnetic, with nearest-neighbor Cr spins aligned antiparallel. The corresponding orbital configuration is $d_{xy \uparrow }^{1}(d_{xz\uparrow }^{1}-id_{yz\uparrow }^{1})$ or $d_{xy \downarrow }^{1}(d_{xz\downarrow }^{1}+id_{yz\downarrow }^{1})$ depending on the spin of the site. In contrast, for the bilayer compound Sr$_{3}$Cr$_{2}$O$_{7}$ we find that the effect of the SOC is weak and the system prefers to form pseudospin singlets in the $z$ direction perpendicular to the planes. The spin order is antiferromagnetic within each plane and ferromagnetic between planes, in agreement with previous studies.
title Effect of spin-orbit coupling on spin and orbital ordering in Sr$_{n+1}$Cr$_n$O$_{3n+1}$, $n=1,2$
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.28904