Spin Fluctuations in Sr2RuO4 from Polarized Neutron Scattering: Implications for Superconductivity

Triplet pairing in Sr2RuO4 was initially suggested based on the hypothesis of strong ferromagnetic spin fluctuations. Using polarized inelastic neutron scattering, we accurately determine the full spectrum of spin fluctuations in Sr2RuO4. Besides the well-studied incommensurate magnetic fluctuations, we do find a sizable quasiferromagnetic signal, quantitatively consistent with all macroscopic and microscopic probes. We use this result to address the possibility of magnetically driven triplet superconductivity in Sr2RuO4. We conclude that, even though the quasiferromagnetic signal is stronger and sharper than previously anticipated, spin fluctuations alone are not enough to generate a triplet state strengthening the need for additional interactions or an alternative pairing scenario.