Professor Paolo G. Radaelli OSI

Abstract:

The structural properties of BiMn$O_3$ were determined from neutron powder diffraction data as a function of temperature and magnetic field. The structure at all temperatures was found to be centrosymmetric with space group $C2/c$, which is incompatible with ferroelectricity. At T$_C\simeq 100 K$, we observed the onset of a large magnetoelastic strain, proportional to the square of the magnetization. We interpret this structural rearrangement, together with the previously observed magnetodielectric anomalies, as due to the need to optimize the partially frustrated magnetic interactions.

Abstract:

The detailed evolution of the magnitude of the local Jahn-Teller (JT) distortion in La(1-x)Ca(x)MnO3 is obtained across the phase diagram for 0< or =x< or =0.5 from high-quality neutron diffraction data using the atomic pair distribution function method. A local JT distortion is observed in the insulating phase for all Ca concentrations studied. However, in contrast with earlier local structure studies, its magnitude is not constant, but decreases continuously with increasing Ca content. This observation is at odds with a simple small-polaron picture for the insulating state.