Hidden Density-Wave Instability in the Trimer Ruthenate Ba 4 Ru 3 O 10

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Authors: Gang Cao, Hengdi Zhao, Adrienne Bond, Tristan R. Cao, Gabriel Schebel, Arabella Quane, Yifei Ni, Yu Zhang, Logan Wall, Rahul Nandkishore, P. Schlottmann, Stephan Rosenkranz
+1 more Feng Ye
Cited by: 1
References: 41

Abstract

We report an unprecedented hidden density-wave instability in the trimer-based ruthenate Ba_{4}Ru_{3}O_{10}, previously regarded as a purely antiferromagnetic insulator. This instability develops in two distinct stages: an electronically driven reconstruction at T_{A}=100 K manifested in structural, thermodynamic, and transport anomalies that remain remarkably insensitive to magnetic fields up to at least 14 T, followed only at much lower temperatures T^{*}∼20 K by the emergence of strongly nonlinear transport. Below T^{*}, charge conduction exhibits distinct depinning thresholds, sharp negative differential resistance, and unusually slow collective dynamics in the Hertz range. Direct measurements show that Joule heating is negligible, and all nonlinear signatures vanish upon only 3% Ir substitution for Ru, demonstrating the intrinsic origin. These results identify Ba_{4}Ru_{3}O_{10} as a rare correlated system hosting a strongly pinned collective electronic mode intertwined with antiferromagnetism.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced Condensed Matter Physics Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materials

Publication details

Journal / source
Physical Review Letters
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Volume
137
Issue
3
Pages
036502–036502
Publication date
5 June 2026
Language
EN