Single antiferromagnetic axis of Fe in orthorhombic YMn0.5Fe0.5O3 films observed by x-ray magnetic linear dichroism

• The electronic and magnetic structure of orthorhombic (o-) YMn0.5Fe0.5O3 (YMFO) epitaxial film (space group Pbnm) deposited on the YAlO3 (010) substrate have been investigated using linear polarization-dependent x-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetization measurements. The magnetic-ordering temperature of around 280 K is observed in o-YMFO film. The x-ray absorption spectra at the Fe-K and the Mn-K edges indicate the existence of anisotropic crystal field in o-YMFO film, with the longest and shortest Fe–O and Mn–O bonds tend to align with the crystallographic b- and a-axis, respectively, whereas the medium Fe(Mn)–O bond is aligned with the c-axis. The experimental x-ray magnetic linear dichroism at the Fe-L2 edges demonstrate an unusual single antiferromagnetic axis of Fe3+ ions below magnetic-ordering temperature, while a multi antiferromagnetic axis is generally observed in o-RFeO3 (R = rare earth) thin films. Our configuration-interaction cluster calculations also reveal that the single antiferromagnetic axis of the Fe sublattice is aligned with the b-axis in o-YMFO film, whereas it is directed along the a-axis in the bulk o-YFeO3.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Metallurgi och metalliska material (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Metallurgy and Metallic Materials (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Configuration-interaction cluster calculation

Single antiferromagnetic axis

X-ray absorption

X-ray magnetic linear dichroism

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)