There is one interesting phenomena in Mn-based pnictides. In PrMnSbO, there is a tetragonal-orthohombic structural transition at 35 K. It is not driven by the transition-metal magnetism as in Fe-based pnictides. Instead, it is driven by 4f-electron degree of freedom of Pr3+ (see PRB 80,100412). I did not find such structural transition driven by Ce3+ in CeMnAsO. Can anybody advise why? How to predict if there is T-O structural transition driven by rare earth ions in other Mn-based pnictides? Thanks for your attention to my question and I look forward to your advice!
One difference certainly lies in the number of electrons at the RE site. This will influence the symmetry of the ground state wafe function. I am not sure of how accurately that can be predicted. But experimentalists have found out ways to actually measure it. A good start for reading into this might be the PhD thesis of Thomas Willers.
http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/4363/1/AbstractForKUPS.pdf
Dear Kai, I really appreciate your advice! The authors mentioned "the T-O structural transition is driven by 4f-electron degree of freedom of Pr3+ " in PRB 80,100412. Are they meaning the orbital degree of freedom of Pr3+? Is the absence of T-O transition in CeMnAsO ascribed to the lower angular momentum number of L=3 in Ce3+ as compared to L=6 in Pr3+?
I am reading the paper and thesis you sent to me. Thanks again and could you please advise more?
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