Overdamped antiferromagnetic strange metal state in Sr3IrRuO7
The unconventional electronic ground state of Sr 3 IrRuO 7 is explored via resonant x-ray scattering techniques and angle-resolved photoemission measurements. As the Ru content approaches x = 0.5 in Sr 3 (Ir 1-x Ru x ) 2 O 7 , intermediate to the J eff = 1/2 Mott state in Sr 3 Ir 2 O 7 and the quantum critical metal in Sr 3 Ru 2 O 7 , a thermodynamically distinct metallic state emerges. The electronic structure of this intermediate phase lacks coherent quasiparticles, and charge transport exhibits a linear temperature dependence over a wide range of temperatures. Spin dynamics associated with the long-range antiferromagnetism of this phase show nearly local, overdamped magnetic excitations and an anomalously large energy scale of 200 meV-an energy far in excess of exchange energies present within either the Sr 3 Ir 2 O 7 or Sr 3 Ru 2 O 7 solid-solution end points. Overdamped quasiparticle dynamics driven by strong spin-charge coupling are proposed to explain the incoherent spectral features of the strange metal state in Sr 3 IrRuO 7 .