Vibrational anomalies in AFe$_\mathbf{2}$As$_\mathbf{2}$ (A$\,=\,$Ca, Sr, and Ba) single crystals

TL;DR

This study investigates the vibrational mode behavior in AFe2As2 (A=Ca, Sr, Ba) single crystals across magnetic and structural transitions, revealing anomalous mode splitting and strength changes linked to orbital ordering.

Contribution

It provides detailed infrared vibrational mode analysis in AFe2As2 compounds, highlighting unexpected mode strength variations and their potential relation to orbital ordering and bonding changes.

Findings

Low-frequency E_u mode splits below T_N in all compounds.

In Sr and Ba, the upper branch of high-frequency mode is weak or absent below T_N.

Lower branch of high-frequency mode shows increased strength below T_N.

Abstract

The detailed behavior of the in-plane infrared-active vibrational modes has been determined in AFe$_2$As$_2$ (A$\,=\,$Ca, Sr, and Ba) above and below the structural and magnetic transition at $T_N=$172, 195 and 138 K, respectively. Above $T_N$, two infrared-active $E_u$ modes are observed. In all three compounds, below $T_N$ the low-frequency $E_u$ mode is observed to split into upper and lower branches; with the exception of the Ba material, the oscillator strength across the transition is conserved. In the Ca and Sr materials, the high-frequency $E_u$ mode splits into an upper and a lower branch; however, the oscillator strengths are quite different. Surprisingly, in both the Sr and Ba materials, below $T_N$ the upper branch appears be either very weak or totally absent, while the lower branch displays an anomalous increase in strength. The frequencies and atomic characters of the lattice modes at the center of the Brillouin zone have been calculated for the high-temperature phase for each of these materials. The high-frequency $E_u$ mode does not change in position or character across this series of compounds. Below $T_N$, the $E_u$ modes are predicted to split into features of roughly equal strength. We discuss the possibility that the anomalous increase in the strength of the lower branch of the high-frequency mode below $T_N$ in the Sr and Ba compounds, and the weak (silent) upper branch, may be related to the orbital ordering and a change in the bonding between the Fe and As atoms in the magnetically-ordered state.