Direct experimental observation of the molecular Jeff=3/2 ground state in the lacunar spinel GaTa4Se8

TL;DR

This study provides direct experimental evidence of the molecular Jeff=3/2 ground state in GaTa4Se8, confirming theoretical predictions and opening pathways to explore exotic quantum phases in spin-orbit coupled systems.

Contribution

It experimentally verifies the existence of the molecular Jeff=3/2 ground state in GaTa4Se8 using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, a first for this material.

Findings

Suppressed Jeff=1/2 excitations at the Ta L2 edge

Confirmation of the Jeff=3/2 ground state in GaTa4Se8

Experimental technique validates theoretical predictions

Abstract

Strong spin-orbit coupling lifts the degeneracy of t2g orbitals in 5d transition-metal systems, leaving a Kramers doublet and quartet with effective angular momentum of Jeff = 1/2 and 3/2, respectively. These spin-orbit entangled states can host exotic quantum phases such as topological Mott state, unconventional superconductivity, and quantum spin liquid. The lacunar spinel GaTa4Se8 was theoretically predicted to form the molecular Jeff = 3/2 ground state. Experimental verification of its existence is an important first step to exploring the consequences of the Jeff = 3/2 state. Here, we report direct experimental evidence of the Jeff = 3/2 state in GaTa4Se8 by means of excitation spectra of resonant inelastic x-rays scattering at the Ta L3 and L2 edges. We found that the excitations involving the Jeff = 1/2 molecular orbital were suppressed only at the Ta L2 edge, manifesting the realization of the molecular Jeff = 3/2 ground state in GaTa4Se8.