Quantum Versus Jahn-Teller Orbital Physics inYVO3andLaVO3

Zhong Fang, Naoto Nagaosa
2004 Physical Review Letters  
We argue that the large Jahn-Teller (JT) distortions in YVO_3 and LaVO_3 should suppress the quantum orbital fluctuation. The unusual magnetic properties can be well explained based on LDA+U calculations using experimental structures, in terms of the JT orbital. The observed splitting of the spin-wave dispersions for YVO_3 in C-type antiferromagnetic state is attributed to the inequivalent VO_2 layers in the crystal structure, instead of the "orbital Peierls state". Alternative stacking of
more » ... ane exchange couplings produces the c-axis spin-wave splitting, thus the spin system is highly three dimensional rather than quasi-one-dimensional. Similar splitting is also predicted for LaVO_3, although it is weak.
doi:10.1103/physrevlett.93.176404 pmid:15525096 fatcat:vabjgyr4mfbx7dsfp4krkbekri