Back to Search
Start Over
Kitaev physics in the two-dimensional magnet NiPSe$_3$
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- The Kitaev interaction, found in candidate materials such as $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$, occurs through the metal ($M$)-ligand ($X$)-metal ($M$) paths of the edge-sharing octahedra because the large spin-orbit coupling (SOC) on the metal atoms activates directional spin interactions. Here, we show that even in $3d$ transition-metal compounds, where the SOC of the metal atom is negligible, heavy ligands can induce bond-dependent Kitaev interactions. In this work, we take as an example the $3d$ transition-metal chalcogenophosphate NiPSe$_3$ and show that the key is found in the presence of a sizable SOC on the Se $p$ orbital, one which mediates the super-exchange between the nearest-neighbor Ni sites. Our study provides a pathway for engineering enhanced Kitaev interactions through the interplay of SOC strength, lattice distortions, and chemical substitutions.<br />Comment: Supplementary material is included in the package
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.2403.09831
- Document Type :
- Working Paper