Mott Transition in Multi-Orbital Models for Iron Pnictides

The bad-metal behavior of the iron pnictides has motivated a theoretical description in terms of a proximity to Mott localization. Since the parent compounds of the iron pnictides contain an even number of 3d-electrons per Fe, it is important to determine whether a Mott transition robustly exists and the nature of the possible Mott insulating phases. We address these issues in a minimal two-orbital model and a more realistic four-orbital model for the parent iron pnictides using a slave-spin approach. In the two-orbital model with two electrons per Fe, we identify a transition from metal to Mott insulator. The critical coupling, $U_c$, is greatly reduced by the Hund's coupling. Depending on the ratio between the inter- and intra-orbital Coulomb repulsions, the insulating state can be either a spin-Mott insulator or an orbital-Mott insulator. In the four-orbital model with four electrons per Fe, we find an orbitally selective metal-to-insulator transition in the case of zero Hund's coupling; the transition to a Mott insulator in the $xz$ and $yz$ orbitals takes place at the same critical coupling as the transition to a band insulator in the $xy$ and $x^2-y^2$ orbitals. In the presence of a finite Hund's coupling, however, the localization transition is into a spin-Mott state.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Orbital-selective Mott Phase in Multiorbital Models for Alkaline Iron Selenides K(1-x)Fe(2-y)Se2

We study a multiorbital model for the alkaline iron selenides K(1-x)Fe(2-y)Se2 using a slave-spin method. With or without ordered vacancies, we identify a metal-to-Mott-insulator transition at the commensurate filling of six 3d electrons per iron ion. For Hund's couplings beyond a threshold value, this occurs via an intermediate orbital-selective Mott phase, in which the 3d xy orbital is Mott localized while the other 3d orbitals remain itinerant. This phase is still stabilized over a range of carrier dopings. Our results lead to an overall phase diagram for the alkaline iron selenides, which provides a unified framework to understand the interplay between the strength of vacancy order and carrier doping. In this phase diagram, the orbital-selective Mott phase provides a natural link between the superconducting K(1-x)Fe(2-y)Se2 and its Mott-insulating parent compound.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, including supplementary informatio