Spin-charge-lattice coupling near the metal-insulator transition in Ca3Ru2O7

TL;DR

This study investigates how spin, charge, and lattice interactions in Ca3Ru2O7 influence the metal-insulator transition, revealing anisotropic structural changes and competing magnetic phases through x-ray scattering.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the spin-charge-lattice coupling near the transition by combining structural data with existing transport and magnetization results.

Findings

Anisotropic lattice parameter changes under magnetic field.

Competition between spin-polarized and antiferromagnetic metallic phases.

Rich behavior observed for magnetic field along the b-axis.

Abstract

We report x-ray scattering studies of the c-axis lattice parameter in Ca3Ru2O7 as a function of temperature and magnetic field. These structural studies complement published transport and magnetization data, and therefore elucidate the spin-charge-lattice coupling near the metal-insulator transition. Strong anisotropy of the structural change for field applied along orthogonal in-plane directions is observed. Competition between a spin-polarized phase that does not couple to the lattice, and an antiferromagnetic metallic phase, which does, gives rise to rich behavior for B $\parallel$ b.