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Orbital character of O-2p unoccupied states near the Fermi level in CrO{sub 2}

Journal Article · · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [3]
  1. James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637 (United States)
  2. Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1150 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1390 (United States)
  3. IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598 (United States)

The orbital character, orientation, and magnetic polarization of the O-2p unoccupied states near the Fermi level (E{sub F}) in CrO{sub 2} was determined using polarization-dependent x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism from high-quality, single-crystal films. A sharp peak observed just above E{sub F} is excited only by the electric-field vector (E) normal to the tetragonal c axis, characteristic of a narrow band ({approx_equal}0.7 eV bandwidth) constituted from O-2p orbitals perpendicular to c (O-2p{sub y}) hybridized with Cr 3d{sub xz-yz} t{sub 2g} states. By comparison with band-structure and configuration-interaction cluster calculations our results support a model of CrO{sub 2} as a half-metallic ferromagnet with large exchange-splitting energy ({delta}{sub exch-split}{approx_equal}3.0 eV) and substantial correlation effects. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.

OSTI ID:
20215844
Journal Information:
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Journal Issue: 14 Vol. 61; ISSN 1098-0121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English