Spin–Orbital Physics in Transition Metal Oxides

We present the main features of the spin-orbital superexchange which describes the magnetic and optical properties of Mott insulators with orbital degrees of freedom. In contrast to the SU(2) symmetry of spin superexchange, the orbital part of the superexchange obeys the lower cubic symmetry of the lattice and is intrinsically frustrated. This intrinsic frustration and spin-orbital entanglement induce enhanced quantum fluctuations, and we point out a few situations where this leads to disordered states. Strong coupling between the spin and orbital degrees of freedom is discussed on the example of the RVO3 perovskites, with R standing for rare-earth ion, La,· · ·,Lu. We explain the observed evolution of the orbital TOO and Néel TN1 transition temperature in the RVO3 series with decreasing ionic radius rR. A few open problems and the current directions of research in the field of spin-orbital physics are pointed out. Published in Acta Phys. Polon. A 115, 36 (2009)