Andrew Boothroyd

Abstract:

The infrared conductivity σ(ω) of NaxCoO2 is studied as a function of doping and temperature for 0.5≤x≤1. A far-infrared peak (FIP) in σ(ω), which coexists with a small Drude contribution, indicates charge localization in the CoO2 layers. Long-range ordering at x=0.5 is confirmed to create a far-infrared gap, in addition to the FIP. At low T and high incommensurate x values, in correspondence with the reported formation of a spin-density wave, the FIP abruptly shifts to higher energy, indicating a deepening of the localizing potential. An analysis of the in-plane E1u phonon lifetime shows that Na+ ions lattice is "frozen in" at any T<295K for commensurate x and at T150K for incommensurate x. A comparison with the behavior of the FIP suggests that the Na+ "freezing" induces carrier localization only for low charge density and high Na+ concentration. © 2005 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

The use of softer-energy X-rays produced by synchrotron radiation for diffraction is an area of current interest. In this paper, experiments exploiting resonant scattering at the L absorption edges of 3d transition metal elements are reported. Such energies, typically 500 - 1000 eV, are at the extreme limit of soft X-ray diffraction where absorption effects are so severe that the sample and diffractometer must be placed in a windowless high-vacuum vessel. In addition, the Ewald sphere is so small as to likely contain, at most, only a single Bragg reflection. Advantages of using such radiation for the study of weak diffraction effects such as anomalous scattering, charge ordering, magnetic diffraction and orbital ordering are reported.

Abstract:

We report resonant x-ray scattering data of the orbital and magnetic ordering at low temperatures at the Mn L2,3 edges in La0.5Sr1.5MnO4. The orderings display complex energy features close to the Mn absorption edges. Systematic modeling with atomic multiplet crystal field calculations was used to extract meaningful information regarding the interplay of spin, orbital, and Jahn-Teller order. These calculations provide a good general agreement with the observed energy dependence of the scattered intensity for a dominant orbital ordering of the dx2-z2 dy2-z2 type. In addition, the origins of various spectral features are identified. The temperature dependence of the orbital and magnetic ordering was measured and suggests a strong interplay between the magnetic and orbital order parameters. © 2005 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

An impurity-driven magnetic phase transition has been investigated in LaCoO3 at temperatures below that of the thermally induced spin state transition of the Co3+ ion. We have discovered a saturating component of the magnetisation, which we attribute to previously unobserved interactions between magnetic excitons. These conclusions are confirmed by muon spin spectroscopy which indicates an ordering temperature of 50 K in both the transverse and zero-field configurations. Low-energy muon measurements demonstrate that the magnetic behaviour is independent of implantation energy and hence a property of the bulk of the material. The magnetic exciton formation is attributed to the interaction between electrons bound at oxygen vacancies and neighbouring cobalt ions, and is proposed as the precursor to the magneto-electronic phase separation recently observed in doped lanthanum cobaltite. © EDP Sciences.