Abstract
A theory of the anisotropic superexchange and low-energy spin excitations in a Mott insulator with orbital degeneracy is presented. We observe that the spin-orbit coupling induces frustrating Ising-like anisotropy terms in the spin Hamiltonian, which invalidate noninteracting spin-wave theory. The frustration of classical states is resolved by an order from disorder mechanism, which selects a particular direction of the staggered moment and generates a quantum spin gap. The theory explains well the observed magnon gaps in As a test case, a specific prediction is made on the splitting of magnon branches at certain momentum directions.
- Received 23 February 2001
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.64.212405
©2001 American Physical Society