Magnetic Excitations in Spin-Orbit Coupled d⁴ Mott Insulator on Square Lattice

We study the magnetic order and excitations in strong spin-orbit coupled, Van Vleck-type, $d^4$ Mott insulators on a square lattice. Extending the previous work, we include the tetragonal crystal field splitting and explore its effects on magnetic phase diagram and magnon spectra. Two different ordered phases, with in-plane and out-of-plane orientation of the staggered moments, are found for the higher and lower values of the crystal field splitting, respectively. The magnetic excitation spectra for paramagnetic and magnetically ordered phases are calculated and discussed in the context of a candidate spin-orbit $d^4$ Mott insulator Ca$_2$RuO$_4$.