Spin/Orbital Pattern-Dependent Polaron Absorption in Nd(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3

TL;DR

This study explores how spin and orbital orderings in Nd(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3 influence polaron absorption, revealing that optical properties vary significantly with temperature and ordering patterns, linked to polaron hopping mechanisms.

Contribution

It demonstrates the dependence of polaron absorption on spin and orbital ordering patterns in Nd(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3, providing insights into their optical behavior.

Findings

Mid-infrared absorption strength proportional to x(1-x) in disordered state

Optical responses vary with spin/orbital ordered states

Polaron hopping depends on spin/orbital ordering pattern

Abstract

We investigated optical properties of Nd(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3 (x= 0.40, 0.50, 0.55, and 0.65) single crystals. In the spin/orbital disordered state, their conductivity spectra look quite similar, and the strength of the mid-infrared absorption peak is proportional to x(1-x) consistent with the polaron picture. As temperature lowers, the Nd(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3 samples enter into various spin/orbital ordered states, whose optical responses are quite different. These optical responses can be explained by the spin/orbital ordering pattern-dependent polaron hopping.