Intertwined density waves in a metallic nickelate

Abstract

Layered Ruddlesden-Popper structure nickelates R 4Ni3O10 (R = La,Pr) show an unusual metal-to-metal transition, but its origin has remained elusive for more than two decades. Here, the authors show that this transition results from intertwined density waves that arise from a coupling between charge and spin degrees of freedom