Mott and spin-Peierls physics in TiPO$_4$ under high pressure

TL;DR

This study investigates the high-pressure spin-Peierls and dimerization phenomena in TiPO$_4$, revealing its potential as a model system for understanding spin-dimer physics in transition metal oxides.

Contribution

The paper combines experimental and theoretical approaches to analyze high-pressure dimerization and spin interactions in TiPO$_4$, establishing its analogy to VO$_2$ and its significance as a model system.

Findings

TiPO$_4$ exhibits spin-Peierls dimerization at high pressure.

TiPO$_4$ is analogous to VO$_2$ in its transition metal oxide behavior.

The study highlights TiPO$_4$'s potential as a model for dimerized transition metal oxides.

Abstract

TiPO$_4$ is a Mott insulator and one of few inorganic compounds featuring a spin-Peierls phase at low temperature. Recent experimental studies have suggested the presence of spin-Peierls dimerization also at ambient temperature though at high pressure. Here, we present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the energetics of the high-pressure phase. We analyse dimerization properties and their coupling to spin degrees of freedom. Most importantly, we argue that TiPO$_4$ resents a direct analogue to the celebrated binary transition metal oxide VO$_2$. TiPO$_4$ allows to assess spin-dimer physics in the high-pressure regime in a controlled fashion, having the potential to become an important model system representative of the class of dimerized transition metal oxides.