The influence of electron-doping on the ground state of (Sr{1-x}La{x})2IrO4

TL;DR

This study investigates how electron doping affects the electronic and magnetic ground states of Sr2IrO4, revealing a transition from a Mott insulator to an inhomogeneous phase with persistent short-range magnetism and a magnetic glass state.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental insights into the evolution of electronic and magnetic phases in electron-doped Sr2IrO4 up to the doping limit.

Findings

Long-range magnetic order vanishes beyond x=0.02

Charge transport remains percolative up to x~0.06

A magnetic glass-like state appears at low temperatures

Abstract

The evolution of the electronic properties of electron-doped (Sr{1-x}La{x})2IrO4 is experimentally explored as the doping limit of La is approached. As electrons are introduced, the electronic ground state transitions from a spin-orbit Mott phase into an electronically phase separated state, where long-range magnetic order vanishes beyond x = 0.02 and charge transport remains percolative up to the limit of La substitution (x~0.06). In particular, the electronic ground state remains inhomogeneous even beyond the collapse of the parent state's long-range antiferromagnetic order, while persistent short-range magnetism survives up to the highest La-substitution levels. Furthermore, as electrons are doped into Sr2IrO4, we observe the appearance of a low temperature magnetic glass-like state intermediate to the complete suppression of antiferromagnetic order. Universalities and differences in the electron-doped phase diagrams of single layer and bilayer Ruddlesden-Popper strontium iridates are discussed.