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Title: Jahn-Teller Effect in Spinel Manganites Probed by Soft X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Journal Article · · Appl. Phys. Lett.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2178474· OSTI ID:913955

We present soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) on spinel manganites and show it can be used as a powerful tool to directly probe the Jahn-Teller (JT) splitting energy in transition metal oxides. The Mn L{sub 2,3}-edge XAS spectra of the spinel ZnMn{sub x}Ga{sub 2-x}O{sub 4} (x=0.5,1.0,1.4, and 2.0) and AMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} (A=Mg and Cd) change very systematically with the structural distortion of JT active octahedral sublattices. The XAS spectra are well reproduced by the configuration interaction cluster model including full ionic multiplet structure, and the spectral evolution is explained by JT energy splitting due to the elongation of the MnO{sub 6} octahedra in the model. In the O K-edge XAS spectra, the JT distortion produces a weak effect, less distinctive than in L{sub 2,3}-edge spectra.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source
Sponsoring Organization:
Doe - Office Of Science
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
913955
Report Number(s):
BNL-78523-2007-JA; APPLAB; TRN: US0801428
Journal Information:
Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 88; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English