Orbital-selective magnetism in the spin-ladder iron selenides Ba[subscript 1;#8722;x]K[subscript x]Fe[subscript 2]Se[subscript 3]

Journal Article · Wed Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Phys. Rev. B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.85.180405· OSTI ID:1041335

Caron, J M; Neilson, J R; Miller, D C; Arpino, K; Llobet, A; McQueen, T M ^[1]

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1. JHU

Here we show that the 2.80(8){mu}{sub B} Fe{sup -1} block antiferromagnetic order of BaFe{sub 2}Se{sub 3} transforms into stripe antiferromagnetic order in KFe{sub 2}Se{sub 3} with a decrease in moment to 2.1(1){mu}{sub B} Fe{sup -1}. This reduction is larger than expected from the change in electron count from Ba{sup 2+} to K{sup +}, and occurs with the loss of the displacements of Fe atoms from ideal positions in the ladders, as found by neutron pair distribution function analysis. Intermediate compositions remain insulating, and magnetic susceptibility measurements show a suppression of magnetic order and probable formation of a spin glass. Together, these results imply an orbital-dependent selection of magnetic versus bonded behavior, driven by relative bandwidths and fillings.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES
• OSTI ID: 1041335
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B, Vol. 85, Issue (18) ; 05, 2012; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ATOMS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRONS
GLASS
IRON SELENIDES
MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY
MAGNETISM
NEUTRONS
SPIN