Towards Modeling of VBS States in IrTe2

Explore the intricacies of valence bond solid (VBS) states in IrTe2 through this 34-minute conference talk delivered at the Workshop on "Spin-Orbit Entangled Quantum Magnetism" at the Erwin Schrödinger International Institute for Mathematics and Physics. Delve into the layered transition metal dichalcogenide IrTe2, known for its strong spin-orbit coupling in anions and cations. Examine the material's unique behavior below 280 K, where Ir-Ir bonds shorten significantly to form dimers, creating striped ordering patterns. Learn about the minimal model approach used to rationalize this ordering, guided by first principles calculations. Discover how dimer formation affects the phonon density of states and investigate the interactions between dimers using force constant matrix analysis. Gain insights into the strain texture and its consistency with observed striped orders. Explore a simplified model based on dimer energetics and phonon entropy, which suggests a phase diagram of IrTe2 featuring a sequence of striped phases.