Optical Investigations of La_{7/8}Sr_{1/8}MnO_3

TL;DR

This study explores how the optical properties of La_{7/8}Sr_{1/8}MnO_3 change with temperature, revealing phase separation and polaron dynamics through spectral analysis.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the temperature-dependent optical behavior and phase transition mechanisms in La_{7/8}Sr_{1/8}MnO_3 using optical spectroscopy.

Findings

Phonon splitting occurs near a structural phase transition.

Mid-infrared polaron peak increases with cooling.

Phase separation and percolation explain spectral changes.

Abstract

We investigated temperature dependent optical conductivity spectra of La_{7/8}Sr_{1/8}MnO_3. Its phonon bending mode starts to be splitted near a structural phase transition temperature. With further cooling, strength of a mid-infrared small polaron peak, which is located at 0.4 eV, becomes increased. These temperature dependent changes in the phonon spectra and the polaron absorption peaks were explained by a phase separation and a percolation-type transition.