Magnetic and electronic properties of Kitaev quantum spin liquid candidates Cu2IrO3 and Na2IrO3 under pressure with Gilberto Fabbris
Materials based on 5d transition-metal ions host a rich variety of emergent magnetic and electronic phases arising from strong spin–orbit coupling. Among these, the Kitaev quantum spin liquid state has attracted particular interest, as it is predicted to occur in honeycomb iridates and offers a potential platform for topologically protected quantum computation. Experimentally realizing this state, however, has proven challenging due to the delicate competition between Kitaev, Heisenberg, and off-diagonal exchange interactions.
In this talk, I will present our recent investigation of the pressure and temperature dependent magnetic and electronic properties of the honeycomb iridates Cu2IrO3 and Na2IrO3. Using a range of x-ray scattering and spectroscopy techniques at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, we uncover distinct high-pressure electronic and structural instabilities in these materials, including Ir–Ir dimerization and pressure-induced charge transfer. The implications of these and previous findings to the properties of honeycomb iridates will be discussed. A brief description of the capabilities of the Advanced Photon Source 4-ID POLAR beamline will also be presented.
Gilberto is an alumnus of our department, having earned his PhD in Physics here in 2014. We're excited to welcome him back and to hear about the work he's been doing since his time with us!