Abstract
Neutron diffraction, synchrotron x-ray diffraction, and specific heat studies have been carried out to investigate the nature of the ordered occupation of the vanadium d orbitals in perovskite YVO3. Evidence has been found for a change in the type of orbital ordering at the 77-K phase transition in this material, manifested by a change in the type of Jahn-Teller distortion. This transition between orbital orderings is caused by an increase in octahedral tilting with decreasing temperature. The orbital ordering above 77 K is not destroyed at the magnetic ordering temperature of 116 K, but is present as far as a second structural phase transition at 200 K. The entropy changes at the onset of both spin and orbital ordering are much lower than the smallest semiclassical value of Rln2 J/(mole K).
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 174112 |
Pages (from-to) | 1741121-1741129 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics) |
Volume | 65 |
Issue number | 17 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |