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Noncollinear Ordering of the Orbital Magnetic Moments in Magnetite

  • H. Elnaggar
  • , Ph. Sainctavit
  • , A. Juhin
  • , S. Lafuerza
  • , F. Wilhelm
  • , A. Rogalev
  • , M. -A. Arrio
  • , Ch. Brouder
  • , M. van der Linden
  • , Z. Kakol
  • , M. Sikora
  • , M. W. Haverkort
  • , P. Glatzel
  • , F. M. F. de Groot

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    The magnitude of the orbital magnetic moment and its role as a trigger of the Verwey transition in the
    prototypical Mott insulator, magnetite, remain contentious. Using 1s2p resonant inelastic x-ray scattering
    angle distribution (RIXS-AD), we prove the existence of noncollinear orbital magnetic ordering and infer
    the presence of dynamical distortion creating a polaronic precursor for the metal to insulator transition.
    These conclusions are based on a subtle angular shift of the RIXS-AD spectral intensity as a function of the
    magnetic field orientation. Theoretical simulations show that these results are only consistent with
    noncollinear magnetic orbital ordering. To further support these claims we perform Fe K-edge x-ray
    magnetic circular dichroism in order to quantify the Fe average orbital magnetic moment.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article number20720
    JournalPhysical Review Letters
    Volume123
    Issue number20
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 12 Nov 2019

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