Neutron Scattering Studies on the High-$T_c$ Superconductor La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_{7-\delta}$ at Ambient Pressure

TL;DR

This study uses neutron scattering to investigate the spin dynamics of La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_{7-\delta}$, revealing weak spin fluctuations without magnetic order, which are key to understanding its high-temperature superconductivity.

Contribution

First neutron scattering analysis of La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_{7-\delta}$ at ambient pressure, showing absence of magnetic order and identifying spin fluctuations relevant to superconductivity.

Findings

No magnetic order detected down to 10 K.

Weak spin fluctuations observed at ~45 meV.

Spin excitations suggest strong interlayer magnetic coupling.

Abstract

After several decades of studies of high-temperature superconductivity, there is no compelling theory for the mechanism yet; however, the spin fluctuations have been widely believed to play a crucial role in forming the superconducting Cooper pairs. The recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity near 80 K in the bilayer nickelate La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ under pressure provides a new platform to elucidate the origins of high-temperature superconductivity. We perform elastic and inelastic neutron scattering studies on a polycrystalline sample of La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_{7-\delta}$ at ambient pressure. No magnetic order can be identified down to 10 K. The absence of long-range magnetic order in neutron diffraction measurements may be ascribed to the smallness of the magnetic moment. However, we observe a weak flat spin-fluctuation signal at $\sim$ 45 meV in the inelastic scattering spectra. The observed spin excitations could be interpreted as a result of strong interlayer and weak intralayer magnetic couplings for stripe-type antiferromagnetic orders. Our results provide crucial information on the spin dynamics and are thus important for understanding the superconductivity in La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$.