Daily Overview: Today’s highlight focuses on deepening the understanding of the electronic structure in hybrid Ruddlesden-Popper nickelates. In [1], a study based on ¹³⁹La nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) reveals the intricate intertwining of charge density wave (CDW) and spin density wave (SDW) in the trilayer nickel oxide La₄Ni₃O₁₀. The experiment finds that the density wave transition is first-order in nature and exhibits an incommensurate order. Strong spin fluctuations above the transition temperature indicate a coupling mechanism between CDW and SDW. This work provides key experimental evidence for understanding the microscopic origin of density wave states and their relationship with the superconducting phase in nickel-based superconductors. arXiv submission processing window: 2026-01-25 02:46 to 2026-01-25 02:46 UTC.

1. Intertwined Charge and Spin Density Waves in Trilayer Nickelate La$_4$Ni$_3$O$_{10}$ Revealed by $^{139}$La NQR

  • Relevance Score: 5.3150
  • Authors: Jie Dou, Feiyu Li, Mingxin Zhang, Jun Luo, Shuo Li, Aifang Fang, Jie Yang, Yanpeng Qi, Junjie Zhang, Rui Zhou
  • Link: http://arxiv.org/abs/2601.17663v1

Summary: This study utilizes (^{139})La nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) to investigate charge density wave (CDW) and spin density wave (SDW) states in both single-crystal and polycrystalline samples of the trilayer nickelate La₄Ni₃O₁₀. Near the phase transition temperature of approximately 133 K, abrupt changes in the NQR spectral linewidth and frequency at the La(2) site in single crystals indicate a first-order density wave phase transition. The significant broadening of the NQR spectra reveals the incommensurate nature of the density wave order. Furthermore, the spin-lattice relaxation rate divided by temperature (1/T₁T) exhibits a pronounced enhancement at the transition temperature, suggesting strong spin fluctuations above the transition. These experimental results imply a complex interplay between the incommensurate CDW and SDW orders. This work provides key insights into the microscopic mechanisms of the density wave state in La₄Ni₃O₁₀ and establishes an important foundation for exploring the interaction between density waves and superconductivity in nickel-based superconductors.