Spin-Phonon Resonances in Nearly Polar Metals with Spin-Orbit Coupling

TL;DR

This paper investigates how spin-orbit coupling influences electron-phonon interactions near polar transitions in metals, revealing hybridized modes, spectroscopic signatures, and magnetic control of polar order.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of spin-phonon hybridization in nearly polar metals, providing experimental predictions and potential control mechanisms.

Findings

Identification of spin-flip and phonon mode anticrossing

Spectroscopic determination of spin-orbit coupling strength

Magnetic field control of polar order parameter

Abstract

In metals in the vicinity of a polar transition, interactions between electrons and soft phonon modes remain to be determined. Here we explore the consequences of spin-orbit assisted electron-phonon coupling on the collective modes of such nearly polar metals in the presense of magnetic field. We find that the soft polar phonon hybridizes with spin-flip electronic excitations of the Zeeman-split bands leading to an anticrossing. The associated energy splitting allows for an unambiguous determination of the strength of the spin-orbit mediated coupling to soft modes in polar metals by spectroscopic experiments. The approach to the polar transition is reflected by the softening of the effective g-factor of the hybridized spin-flip mode. Analyzing the static limit, we find that the polar order parameter can be oriented by magnetic field. This provides possibilities for new switching protocols in polar metallic materials. We demonstrate that the effects we predict can be observed with current experimental techniques and discuss promising material candidates.