Charge and orbital ordering in Fe and Mn perovskite oxides far from half- doping by resonant x- ray scattering

TL;DR

This paper investigates charge and orbital ordering phenomena in Fe and Mn perovskite oxides at doping levels far from half-doping using resonant x-ray scattering, revealing more widespread COO behavior than previously thought.

Contribution

It demonstrates that charge and orbital ordering occur across a broader doping range in perovskite oxides, challenging the traditional ionic model limited to half-doped compositions.

Findings

COO observed in La_0.4Sr_1.6MnO_4 and La(Pr)_1/3Sr_2/3FeO_3.

Incommensurate superlattice reflections in Mn oxide.

Structural changes involving La, Sr, and O atoms influence COO.

Abstract

The emergence of superlattice periodicities at metal to insulator transitions in hole doped perovskite oxides responds to a rearrangement of the local atomic structure, and electron and spin density distribution. Originally, the ionic model based on a checkerboard- type atomic distribution served to describe the low temperature charge and orbital ordered (COO) phases arising in half- doped manganites. In the last years, the exploitation of resonant x- ray scattering (RXS) capabilities has shown the need to revisit these concepts and improve the picture. Yet, we have realised that COO is a more common phenomenon than expected that can be observed in a wide range of doping levels. Here we compare the experimental data recently collected by RXS on La_0.4Sr_1.6MnO_4 (x=0.60) and La(Pr)_1/3Sr_2/3FeO_3 (x=0.67). The first shows a COO phase similar to that found in the x=0.5 sample but angular peak positions vs. T denotes the incommensurability of superlattice reflections. Meanwhile, the analysis of the commensurate CO phase in the studied ferrite underlines the role of the structural changes also involving La(Sr) and O atoms.