Almost pure Jeff= 12 Mott state of In2Ir2 O7 in the limit of reduced intersite hopping

Abstract

The pyrochlore iridate In2Ir2O7 is a Jeff=12 Mott insulator with frustrated magnetism. Despite the large trigonal distortion, only a small admixture of Jeff=32 component in the Jeff=12 bands is observed as compared with other pyrochlore iridates A2Ir2O7 (A = trivalent cation). We argue that the reduced intersite hopping between the Jeff=12 and the Jeff=32 manifold, due to the large trigonal distortion and the covalent character of In-O bonds, plays a predominant role in the distinct behavior of In2Ir2O7. Such effect of the intersite hopping should not be dismissed in the local physics of Jeff=12 Mott insulators.