Anisotropy of the incommensurate fluctuations in Sr2RuO4: a study with polarized neutrons

TL;DR

This study investigates the directional dependence of magnetic incommensurate fluctuations in Sr2RuO4 using polarized neutron scattering, revealing energy-dependent anisotropy that partially aligns with theoretical predictions.

Contribution

First experimental measurement of anisotropic magnetic fluctuations in Sr2RuO4 with polarized neutrons, providing insights into spin-orbit coupling effects.

Findings

Out-of-plane fluctuation component is enhanced by a factor of two at intermediate energies.

Anisotropy decreases at higher energies.

Experimental results are weaker than theoretical predictions.

Abstract

The anisotropy of the magnetic incommensurate fluctuations in Sr2RuO4 has been studied by inelastic neutron scattering with polarized neutrons. We find a sizeable enhancement of the out of plane component by a factor of two for intermediate energy transfer which appears to decrease for higher energies. Our results qualitatively confirm calculations of the spin-orbit coupling, but the experimental anisotropy and its energy dependence are weaker than predicted.