Electronic phase separation in the itinerant metamagnetic transition of Sr$_4$Ru$_3$O$_{10}$

TL;DR

This study investigates the electronic phase separation during the metamagnetic transition in Sr$_4$Ru$_3$O$_{10}$, revealing ultrasharp magnetoresistivity steps and non-metallic behavior linked to phase coexistence.

Contribution

It uncovers a novel electronic phase separation process involving lowly polarized and ferromagnetic states during the metamagnetic transition.

Findings

Ultrasharp steps in magnetoresistivity near transition

Non-metallic behavior in up-sweep, metallic in down-sweep

Evidence of phase coexistence during transition

Abstract

Triple-layered ruthenate Sr$_4$Ru$_3$O$_{10}$ shows a first-order itinerant metamagnetic transition for in-plane magnetic fields. Our experiments revealed rather surprising behavior in the low-temperature transport properties near this transition. The in-plane magnetoresistivity $\rho$$_{ab}$(H) exhibits ultrasharp steps as the magnetic field sweeps down through the transition. Temperature sweeps of $\rho$$_{ab}$ for fields within the transition regime show non-metallic behavior in the up-sweep cycle of magnetic field, but show a significant drop in the down-sweep cycle. These observations indicate that the transition occurs via a new electronic phase separation process; a lowly polarized state is mixed with a ferromagnetic state within the transition regime.