Simultaneous Ordering of Holes and Spins in <span class="aps-inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mrow><msub><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">La</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span>Ni<span class="aps-inline-formula"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mrow><msub><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">O</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>4.125</mn></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span>

J. M. Tranquada; D. J. Buttrey; V. Sachan; J. E. Lorenzo

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.73.1003

Simultaneous Ordering of Holes and Spins in ${La}_{2}$ Ni $O_{4.125}$

J. M. Tranquada, D. J. Buttrey, V. Sachan, and J. E. Lorenzo

Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 1003 – Published 15 August 1994

Abstract

We report a single-crystal neutron diffraction study of the incommensurate magnetic ordering that occurs in ${La}_{2}$ Ni $O_{4.125}$ below 110 K. Besides the magnetic first and third harmonic Bragg peaks, we have also observed second harmonic peaks associated with charge ordering. The magnitude of the incommensurate splitting, $ε$ , is strongly temperaure dependent. Lock-in behavior indicates that $ε$ tends to rational fractions, while regions of continuous variation suggest a devil's staircase. Analysis of these features indicates that the holes, induced by the excess oxygen, order in domain walls that form antiphase boundaries between antiferromagnetic domains.

Received 13 December 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.73.1003

Authors & Affiliations

J. M. Tranquada¹, D. J. Buttrey², V. Sachan², and J. E. Lorenzo¹

¹Physics Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973
²Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716