Probing the magnetic character of excitations in semi-metallic CaIrO3 by RIXS at the Ir L2 edge

The perovskite phase of CaIrO3 is a putative Dirac semimetal, a fascinating material. Cutting-edge density functional theory (DFT) calculations predict the formation and ordering of higher-order magnetization multi-poles, promising unconventional magnetism in the vicinity of a metal-insulator transition. Our previous RIXS study at the Ir L3 edge (HC-5738) revealed dispersive low-energy excitations with a minimum energy of 120 meV, but their magnetic origin requires to be confirmed. Exploiting the distinct selection rules for RIXS at the Ir L2 edge, we aim to unambiguously clarify the nature of these low-energy excitations in thin films of CaIrO3.