Multiband Metallic Ground State in Multilayered Nickelates La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ and La$_4$Ni$_3$O$_{10}$ Probed by $^{139}$La-NMR at Ambient Pressure

Abstract

We report a $^{139}$La-NMR study of polycrystalline samples of multi($n$)-layered nickelates, La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_{7-δ}$ ($n=2$) and La$_4$Ni$_3$O$_{10-δ}$ ($n=3$), at ambient pressure. Measurements of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and nuclear spin relaxation rate ($1/T_1$) indicate the emergence of a density wave order with a gap below $T^*\sim150$ K for La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_{7-δ}$ and $\sim130$ K for La$_4$Ni$_3$O$_{10-δ}$. The finite value of $1/T_1$ below $T^*$ indicates metallic ground states with the remaining density of states at the Fermi level ($E_{\rm F}$) under the density wave order. These features are attributed to multiple $d$ electron bands with different characteristics. Above $T^*$, the gradual decrease in $1/T_1T$ upon cooling implies the presence of a band with flat dispersion near $E_{\rm F}$. From our microscopic probes, we point out that these nickelates ($n=2$ and $3$) possess similar electronic states despite the difference in the formal valence of the Ni-$d$ electron states, which provides a basis for understanding the novel high-$T_{\rm c}$ superconductivity under high pressures.