Diffuse Neutron Scattering Study of Magnetic Correlations in half-doped La0.5Ca0.5-xSrxMnO3 (x = 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4) Manganites

TL;DR

This study uses polarized neutron scattering to analyze magnetic correlations in La0.5Ca0.5-xSrxMnO3 manganites, revealing how doping influences magnetic order and the coexistence of short and long-range magnetic states.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into magnetic polaron behavior and the evolution of magnetic correlations with temperature and doping in these manganites.

Findings

Magnetic diffuse scattering indicates magnetic polarons above T_N.

Short-range ferromagnetic correlations coexist with long-range antiferromagnetic order.

Doping level affects the presence of superlattice diffuse reflections and magnetic phases.

Abstract

The short range ordered magnetic correlations have been studied in half doped La0.5Ca0.5-xSrxMnO3 (x = 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4) compounds by polarized neutron scattering technique. On doping Sr2+ for Ca2+ ion, these compounds with x = 0.1, 0.3, and 0.4 exhibit CE-type, mixture of CE-type and A-type, and A-type antiferromagnetic ordering, respectively. Magnetic diffuse scattering is observed in all the compounds above and below their respective magnetic ordering temperatures and is attributed to magnetic polarons. The correlations are primarily ferromagnetic in nature above T\_N, although a small antiferromagnetic contribution is also evident. Additionally, in samples x = 0.1 and 0.3 with CE-type antiferromagnetic ordering, superlattice diffuse reflections are observed indicating correlations between magnetic polarons. On lowering temperature below T\_N the diffuse scattering corresponding to ferromagnetic correlations is suppressed and the long range ordered antiferromagnetic state is established. However, the short range ordered correlations indicated by enhanced spin flip scattering at low Q coexist with long range ordered state down to 3K. In x = 0.4 sample with A-type antiferromagnetic ordering, superlattice diffuse reflections are absent. Additionally, in comparison to x = 0.1 and 0.3 sample, the enhanced spin flip scattering at low Q is reduced at 310K, and as temperature is reduced below 200K, it becomes negligibly low. The variation of radial correlation function, g(r) with temperature indicates rapid suppression of ferromagnetic correlations at the first nearest neighbor on approaching TN. Sample x = 0.4 exhibits growth of ferromagnetic phase at intermediate temperatures (~ 200K). This has been further explored using SANS and neutron depolarization techniques.