Temperature-dependent orbital degree of freedom of a bilayer manganite by magnetic compton scattering

Magnetic Compton Scattering Study of Li-Rich Battery Materials

The redox process in a lithium-ion battery occurs when a conduction electron from the lithium anode is transferred to the redox orbital of the cathode. Understanding the nature of orbitals involved in anionic as well as cationic redox reactions is important for improving the capacity and energy density of Li-ion batteries. In this connection, we have obtained magnetic Compton profiles (MCPs) from the Li-rich cation-disordered rock-salt compound LixTi0.4Mn0.4O2 (LTMO). The MCPs, which involved the scattering of circularly polarized hard X-rays, are given by the momentum density of all the unpaired spins in the material. The net magnetic moment in the ground state can be extracted from the area under the MCP, along with a SQUID measurement. Our analysis gives insight into the role of Mn 3d magnetic electrons and O 2p holes in the magnetic redox properties of LTMO.

A Minimal tight-binding model for ferromagnetic canted bilayer manganites

Half-metallicity in materials has been a subject of extensive research due to its potential for applications in spintronics. Ferromagnetic manganites have been seen as a good candidate, and aside from a small minority-spin pocket observed in La_2−2xSr_1+2xMn₂O₇ (x = 0.38), transport measurements show that ferromagnetic manganites essentially behave like half metals. Here we develop robust tight-binding models to describe the electronic band structure of the majority as well as minority spin states of ferromagnetic, spin-canted antiferromagnetic, and fully antiferromagnetic bilayer manganites. Both the bilayer coupling between the MnO₂ planes and the mixing of the |x² − y² > and |3z² − r² > Mn 3d orbitals play an important role in the subtle behavior of the bilayer splitting. Effects of k_z dispersion are included.

Minority-spin t(2g) states and the degree of spin polarization in ferromagnetic metallic La(2-2x)Sr(1+2x)Mn(2)O(7) (x = 0.38)

A half-metal is a material with conductive electrons of one spin orientation. This type of substance has been extensively searched for due to the fascinating physics as well as the potential applications for spintronics. Ferromagnetic manganites are considered to be good candidates, though there is no conclusive evidence for this notion. Here we show that the ferromagnet La_2−2xSr_1+2xMn₂O₇ (x = 0.38) possesses minority-spin states, challenging whether any of the manganites may be true half-metals. However, when electron transport properties are taken into account on the basis of the electronic band structure, we found that the La_2−2xSr_1+2xMn₂O₇ (x = 0.38) can essentially behave like a complete half metal.

A magnetic Compton scattering study of Ga rich Co-Ni-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

The temperature dependent spin momentum densities of Co(1.8)NiGa(1.2) and Co(2)Ni(0.76)Ga(1.24) alloys have been measured using the magnetic Compton scattering technique. The individual contributions of constituents in the formation of the total spin moment are also calculated using Compton line shape analysis. The magnetic Compton data when compared with the magnetization data obtained using a vibrating sample magnetometer show a negligible orbital contribution. The spin moments deduced from the experimental Compton data are compared with the theoretical results obtained from the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method and are found to be in good agreement. The origin of the magnetism in both alloys is also described in terms of the e(g) and t(2g) contributions of Ni and Co.

Role of oxygen electrons in the metal-insulator transition in the magnetoresistive oxide La2-2xSr1+2xMn2O7 probed by compton scattering

We have studied the [100]-[110] anisotropy of the Compton profile in the bilayer manganite. Quantitative agreement is found between theory and experiment with respect to the anisotropy in the two metallic phases (i.e., the low temperature ferromagnetic and the colossal magnetoresistant phase under a magnetic field of 7 T). Robust signatures of the metal-insulator transition are identified in the momentum density for the paramagnetic phase above the Curie temperature. We interpret our results as providing direct evidence for the transition from the metalliclike to the admixed ionic-covalent bonding accompanying the magnetic transition. The number of electrons involved in this phase transition is estimated. Our study demonstrates the sensitivity of the Compton scattering technique for identifying the number and type of electrons involved in the metal-insulator transition.

Orbital mixing and nesting in the bilayer manganites La2-2xSr1+2xMn2O7

A first principles study of La2-2xSr1+2xMn2O7 compounds for doping levels 0.3 < or = x < or = 0.5 shows that the low energy electronic structure of the majority spin carriers is determined by strong momentum-dependent interactions between the Mn eg dx2-y2 and d3z2-r2 orbitals, which, in addition to an x-dependent Jahn-Teller distortion, differ in the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases. The Fermi surface exhibits nesting behavior that is reflected by peaks in the static susceptibility, whose positions as a function of momentum have a nontrivial dependence on x.