Complex electronic states in double layered ruthenates (Sr1-xCax)3Ru2O7

TL;DR

This study explores how the electronic and magnetic properties of (Sr$_{1-x}$Ca$_x$)$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$ evolve with composition, revealing a complex interplay between magnetic states and electronic ground states, including Fermi liquid and non-Fermi liquid behaviors.

Contribution

It provides a detailed phase diagram linking magnetic states to electronic ground states in (Sr$_{1-x}$Ca$_x$)$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$, highlighting the strong charge-spin coupling and quantum criticality.

Findings

Electronic ground state transitions from AFM metal to localized states.

Observation of non-Fermi liquid behavior near critical composition.

Strong coupling between magnetic states and electronic properties.

Abstract

The magnetic ground state of (Sr$_{1-x}$Ca$_x$)$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$ (0 $\leq x \leq$ 1) is complex, ranging from an itinerant metamagnetic state (0 $\leq x <$ 0.08), to an unusual heavy-mass, nearly ferromagnetic (FM) state (0.08 $< x <$ 0.4), and finally to an antiferromagnetic (AFM) state (0.4 $\leq x \leq$ 1). In this report we elucidate the electronic properties for these magnetic states, and show that the electronic and magnetic properties are strongly coupled in this system. The electronic ground state evolves from an AFM quasi-two-dimensional metal for $x =$ 1.0, to an Anderson localized state for $0.4 \leq x < 1.0$ (the AFM region). When the magnetic state undergoes a transition from the AFM to the nearly FM state, the electronic ground state switches to a weakly localized state induced by magnetic scattering for $0.25 \leq x < 0.4$, and then to a magnetic metallic state with the in-plane resistivity $\rho_{ab} \propto T^\alpha$ ($\alpha >$ 2) for $0.08 < x < 0.25$. The system eventually transforms into a Fermi liquid ground state when the magnetic ground state enters the itinerant metamagnetic state for $x < 0.08$. When $x$ approaches the critical composition ($x \sim$ 0.08), the Fermi liquid temperature is suppressed to zero Kelvin, and non-Fermi liquid behavior is observed. These results demonstrate the strong interplay between charge and spin degrees of freedom in the double layered ruthenates.