Temperature dependent scattering rate and optical mass of ferromagnetic metallic manganites

TL;DR

This study investigates the temperature-dependent optical properties of ferromagnetic manganites, revealing a T^2 scattering rate dependence and slight optical mass enhancement, with implications for understanding their electronic behavior.

Contribution

It provides detailed infrared measurements and analysis of scattering rate and optical mass in manganites, comparing experimental data with band structure calculations.

Findings

Scattering rate varies as T^2 with temperature

Optical mass enhancement closely matches specific heat data

Infrared spectral weight aligns with band structure calculations

Abstract

We report on the optical properties of the hole-doped manganites La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO_3 and La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO_3. Transmission and reflection of thin films are measured in the infrared at temperatures from 10 - 150 K using Fourier-transform spectroscopy. The scattering rate and optical mass are obtained by fitting the far-infrared transmission to a Drude model. The scattering rate shows a T^2 dependence with temperature. The optical mass enhancement differs only slightly from specific heat results. In addition, we compare the infrared spectral weight to band structure calculations [M. Quijada et al., Phys. Rev. B 58, 16093 (1998)].