Spin-orbit fluctuations in frustrated heavy-fermion metal LiV$_2$O$_4$

TL;DR

This study investigates spin fluctuations in the frustrated heavy-fermion metal LiV$_2$O$_4$ using neutron scattering, revealing how spin-orbit fluctuations and orbital hybridization contribute to heavy-fermion behavior.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the spin-orbit fluctuations and magnetic correlations in LiV$_2$O$_4$, highlighting their role in heavy-fermion formation.

Findings

Observation of a characteristic magnetic peak at Q=0.6 Å$^{-1}$

Detection of a broad magnetic peak around 2.4 Å$^{-1}$

Heavy-fermion behavior linked to spin-orbit fluctuations

Abstract

Spin fluctuations were studied over a wide momentum ($\hbar Q$) and energy ($E$) space in the frustrated $d$-electron heavy-fermion metal LiV$_2$O$_4$ by time-of-flight inelastic neutron scattering. We observed the overall $Q$$-$$E$ evolutions near the characteristic $Q=0.6$ {\AA}$^{-1}$ peak and found another weak broad magnetic peak around 2.4 {\AA}$^{-1}$. The data are described by a simple response function, a highly itinerant magnetic form factor, and antiferromagnetic short-range spatial correlations, indicating that heavy-fermion formation is attributable to spin-orbit fluctuations with orbital hybridization.