Orbital effects in manganites

TL;DR

This paper reviews the role of orbital degrees of freedom in manganites, highlighting how orbital degeneracy, Jahn-Teller effects, and quantum fluctuations influence structural, magnetic, and electronic properties, including colossal magnetoresistance.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of orbital ordering mechanisms, their effects on material properties, and discusses quantum effects and resonating orbital bonds in manganites.

Findings

Orbital order influences structural distortions and magnetic interactions.

Quantum fluctuations can lead to resonating orbital bonds.

Orbital effects are crucial in understanding colossal magnetoresistance.

Abstract

We review some aspects related to orbital degrees of freedom in manganites. The Mn$^{3+}$ ions in these compounds have double orbital degeneracy and are strong Jahn-Teller ions, causing structural distortions and orbital ordering. We discuss ordering mechanisms and the consequences of orbital order. The additional degeneracy of low-energy states and the extreme sensitivity of the chemical bonds to the spatial orientation of the orbitals result in a variety of competing interactions. This quite often leads to frustration of classical ordered states and to the enhancement of quantum effects. Quantum fluctuations and related theoretical models are briefly discussed, including the occurence of resonating orbital bonds in the metallic phase of the colossal magnetoresistance manganites.