TY  - JOUR
AU  - Gretarsson, H.
AU  - Fujihara, H.
AU  - Sato, F.
AU  - Gotou, H.
AU  - Imai, Y.
AU  - Ohgushi, K.
AU  - Keimer, B.
AU  - Suzuki, Hakuto
TI  - J = <sup>1</sup><sub>2</sub> pseudospins and d − p hybridization in the Kitaev spin liquid candidates RuX<sub>3</sub> ( X =Cl, Br, I)
JO  - Physical review / B
VL  - 109
IS  - 18
SN  - 2469-9950
CY  - Woodbury, NY
PB  - Inst.
M1  - PUBDB-2024-01914
SP  - L180413
PY  - 2024
AB  - The recent synthesis of ruthenium trihalides RuX<sub>3</sub> (𝑋 = Cl, Br, I) has enlarged the set of material candidates for Kitaev spin liquids. The realization of the Kitaev model necessitates the formation of J = <sup>1</sup><sub>2</sub> pseudospins in the octahedral crystal field. We use Ru 𝐿<sub>3</sub>-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering to investigate the evolution of multiplet structures in RuX<sub>3</sub>. We identified quasielastic magnetic correlations and spin-orbit transitions to the J = <sup>3</sup><sub>2</sub> states without discernible trigonal splitting, thereby validating the J = <sup>1</sup><sub>2</sub> description of magnetism in the RuX<sub>3</sub> family. Lineshape broadening in RuX<sub>3</sub> provides evidence for its bulk metallicity in the vicinity of a bandwidth-controlled metal-insulator transition. Our results highlight the pivotal role of halogen 𝑝 orbitals in controlling the electronic properties of RuX<sub>3</sub>.  
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:001243805200001
DO  - DOI:10.1103/PhysRevB.109.L180413
UR  - https://bib-pubdb1.desy.de/record/607542
ER  -