Mechanism for transitions between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orders in $d$-electron metallic magnets

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new mechanism explaining pressure-induced transitions between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases in $d$-electron metallic magnets, demonstrated through a minimal two-orbital model and applied to LaCrGe$_3$.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism based on competing energy scales for magnetic phase transitions in $d$-electron metals, supported by a minimal model and experimental candidate analysis.

Findings

Pressure can induce magnetic phase transitions via energy scale competition.

The minimal $p$-$d$ model captures the essential physics of the transition.

LaCrGe$_3$ is a promising candidate to observe this mechanism.

Abstract

We propose mechanism for pressure-induced transitions between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases that relies on a competition between characteristic energy scales ubiquitous among $d$-electron metallic magnetic compounds. Principles behind the mechanism are demonstrated on the example of the minimal two-orbital $p$-$d$ lattice model. We suggest that LaCrGe$_3$, where pressure-induced ferromagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic phase transition has been recently observed, is a promising candidate to realize discussed mechanism.