Jahn-Teller distortion driven magnetic polarons in magnetite

H. Y. Huang, Z. Y. Chen, R. -P. Wang, F. M. F. de Groot, W. B. Wu, J. Okamoto, A. Chainani, A. Singh, Z. -Y. Li, J. -S. Zhou, H. -T. Jeng, G. Y. Guo, Je-Geun Park, L. H. Tjeng, C. T. Chen and D. J. Huang ()
Additional contact information
H. Y. Huang: National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center
Z. Y. Chen: National Tsing Hua University
R. -P. Wang: Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Utrecht University
F. M. F. de Groot: Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Utrecht University
W. B. Wu: National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center
J. Okamoto: National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center
A. Chainani: National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center
A. Singh: National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center
Z. -Y. Li: Texas Material Institute, University of Texas at Austin
J. -S. Zhou: Texas Material Institute, University of Texas at Austin
H. -T. Jeng: National Tsing Hua University
G. Y. Guo: National Taiwan University
Je-Geun Park: Seoul National University
L. H. Tjeng: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids
C. T. Chen: National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center
D. J. Huang: National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract The first known magnetic mineral, magnetite, has unusual properties, which have fascinated mankind for centuries; it undergoes the Verwey transition around 120 K with an abrupt change in structure and electrical conductivity. The mechanism of the Verwey transition, however, remains contentious. Here we use resonant inelastic X-ray scattering over a wide temperature range across the Verwey transition to identify and separate out the magnetic excitations derived from nominal Fe2+ and Fe3+ states. Comparison of the experimental results with crystal-field multiplet calculations shows that the spin–orbital dd excitons of the Fe2+ sites arise from a tetragonal Jahn-Teller active polaronic distortion of the Fe2+O6 octahedra. These low-energy excitations, which get weakened for temperatures above 350 K but persist at least up to 550 K, are distinct from optical excitations and are best explained as magnetic polarons.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15929

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