Andrew Boothroyd

Abstract:

We investigate the spin state of LaCoO3 using state-of-the-art photoemission spectroscopy and ab initio band structure calculations. The GGA+U calculations provide a good description of the ground state for the experimentally estimated value of electron correlation strength, U. In addition to the correlation effect, spin-orbit interaction is observed to play a significant role in the case of intermediate spin and high spin configurations. The comparison of the calculated Co 3d and O 2p partial density of states with the experimental valence band spectra indicates that at room temperature, Co has dominant intermediate spin state configuration and that the high spin configuration may not be significant at this temperature. The lineshape of the La 5p and O 2s core level spectra could be reproduced well within these ab initio calculations.

Abstract:

Using polarized neutron scattering we establish that the magnetic order in La(1.48)Nd(0.4)Sr(0.12)CuO(4) is either (i) one dimensionally modulated and collinear, consistent with the stripe model or (ii) two dimensionally modulated with a novel noncollinear structure. The measurements rule out a number of alternative models characterized by 2D electronic order or 1D helical spin order. The low-energy spin excitations are found to be primarily transversely polarized relative to the stripe ordered state, consistent with conventional spin waves.

Abstract:

The incommensurate magnetic excitations of spin-charge ordered La2NiO4.11 were studied by inelastic neutron scattering. With increasing energy up to similar to 20meV the maximum intensity of the spin excitations is observed to shift slightly towards the 2D antiferromagnetic wave vector (1/2, 1/2). This asymmetry in the magnon dispersion about the incommensurate wave vector is a similar effect, though less marked, to what has been observed in the layered cuprate superconductors. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.