Magnetic field effects in a correlated electron system with Spin-State degree of freedom - Implications for an excitonic insulator

Magnetic field (H) effects on a correlated electron system with a spin-state degree of freedom are examined. The effective Hamiltonian derived from the two-orbital Hubbard model is analyzed by the mean-field approximation. Applying a magnetic field to the low-spin (LS) phase induces an excitonic insulating phase as well as a spin-state ordered phase where the LS and high-spin (HS) states are ordered alternately. When H is applied to the HS phase, a reentrant transition for the HS phase appears. A rich variety of the phase diagrams is attributed to the spin-state degree of freedom and their combinations in the wave function as well as in the real-space configuration. The present results provide a possible interpretation for the recent experimental observation of LaCoO₃ under a strong magnetic field.