In spite of extensive studies on NiO and their accomplishments, the rich physics still raises unsolved physical problems. In particular, the nature of the two-peak structure in the valence band photoemission spectra is still controversial. By using \textit{ ab initio} LQSGW+DMFT, the two-peak structure is shown to be driven by the concerted effect of antiferromagnetic ordering and intersite electron hopping. Magnetic ordering in the Ni-$e_{ g}$ orbitals splits majority- and minority-spin Ni-$t_{ 2g}$ levels due to local Hund's coupling. Strong hybridization between O-$p$ and Ni-$e_g$, a signature of the Zhang-Rice bound state formation, boosts oxygen-mediated intersite Ni-$e_g$ orbital hopping, resulting in the enhancement of majority-spin Ni $t_{ 2g}$-$e_{ g}$ splitting. Interestingly, these two splittings of distinct physical origins match and give rise to the observed two-peak structure in NiO. Our new understanding should be useful in designing advanced devices based on the NiO for the hole transport.
Categories: cond-mat.str-el