Lucarelli et al. reply to Tajima et al. (cond-mat 0303493)

TL;DR

This paper defends previous findings of far-infrared peaks in La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4) by demonstrating the spectral features are present in high-quality crystals, countering claims of sample miscut or misidentification.

Contribution

The authors provide evidence that their observed spectral features are genuine and not due to sample miscut, reinforcing the charge stripe interpretation in La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4).

Findings

Far-infrared peaks are present in floating-zone-grown crystals.

Spectral features are also found in flux-grown crystals with intrinsic a-b surfaces.

The data validity is supported against claims of miscut samples.

Abstract

In their Comment to a recent paper of ours [Lucarelli et al., PRL 92, 037002 (2003)], Tajima et al. (cond-mat 0303493) argue that the samples of La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4) where we find far-infrared peaks below 150 cm-1 (which suggest a charge stripe scenario) are not single crystals or are miscut. Here we show that the spectral feature on which this criticism is based was found both in floating-zone-grown crystals where the miscut was negligible, and in flux-grown crystals where the surface is intrinsically a-b. Further arguments are presented to support the validity of our data.