Spectroscopic signatures and origin of hidden order in Ba₂MgReO₆

Clarifying the underlying mechanisms that govern ordering transitions in condensed matter systems is crucial for comprehending emergent properties and phenomena. While transitions are often classified as electronically driven or lattice-driven, we present a departure from this conventional picture in the case of the double perovskite Ba₂MgReO₆. Leveraging resonant and non-resonant elastic x-ray scattering techniques, we unveil the simultaneous ordering of structural distortions and charge quadrupoles at a critical temperature of T_q ~ 33 K. Using a variety of complementary first-principles-based computational techniques, we demonstrate that, while electronic interactions drive the ordering at T_q, it is ultimately the lattice distortions that dictate the specific ground state that emerges. Our findings highlight the crucial interplay between electronic and lattice degrees of freedom, providing a unified framework to understand and predict unconventional emergent phenomena in quantum materials.