Nonadiabatic Atomic-like State Stabilizing Antiferromagnetism and Mott Insulation in MnO

TL;DR

This paper suggests that nonadiabatic atomic-like motion stabilizes the antiferromagnetic and insulating ground state of MnO, similar to NiO, supported by experimental evidence and lattice distortion analysis.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that nonadiabatic atomic-like motion is responsible for MnO's antiferromagnetic and insulating states, providing a new perspective on their origin.

Findings

Nonadiabatic atomic-like motion stabilizes MnO's ground state.

Experimental data supports the role of lattice distortions.

Similar mechanisms are observed in NiO.

Abstract

In this paper I report evidence that the antiferromagnetic and insulating ground state of MnO is caused by a nonadiabatic atomic-like motion as it is evidently the case in NiO. In addition, I show that the experimental findings of Goodwin et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. (2006), 96,~047209] corroborate my suggestion that the rhombohedral-like distortion in antiferromagnetic MnO as well as in antiferromagnetic NiO is an inner distortion of the monoclinic base-centered Bravais lattice of the antiferromagnetic phases.