Observation of Kondo hybridization with an orbital-selective Mott phase in 4d Ca2-xSrxRuO4

TL;DR

This study reports the first observation of Kondo hybridization in a 4d transition metal compound, Ca2-xSrxRuO4, revealing a new class of materials where Kondo physics can occur beyond f-electron systems.

Contribution

It demonstrates the presence of Kondo hybridization and orbital-selective Mott phase in 4d electrons, expanding the scope of Kondo physics to 4d multi-orbital systems.

Findings

Spectral weight transfer in the { extgamma}-band indicating OSMP

Observation of Kondo hybridization between localized and itinerant bands

First demonstration of OSMP evolution with possible Kondo physics in 4d materials

Abstract

The heavy fermion state with Kondo-hybridization (KH), usually manifested in f-electron systems with lanthanide or actinide elements, was recently discovered in several 3d transition metal compounds without f-electrons. However, KH has not yet been observed in 4d/5d transition metal compounds, since more extended 4d/5d orbitals do not usually form flat bands that supply localized electrons appropriate for Kondo pairing. Here, we report a doping- and temperature-dependent angle-resolved photoemission study on 4d Ca2-xSrxRuO4, which shows the signature of KH. We observed a spectral weight transfer in the {\gamma}-band, reminiscent of an orbital-selective Mott phase (OSMP). The Mott localized {\gamma}-band induces KH with the itinerant \b{eta}-band, resulting in spectral weight suppression around the Fermi level. Our work is the first to demonstrate the evolution of the OSMP with possible KH among 4d electrons, and thereby expands the material boundary of Kondo physics to 4d multi-orbital systems.