Abstract
The hole concentration dependence of the magnetic correlations is studied in very lightly doped La2-xSrxCuO4 (x>0.02), which shows coexistence of a three-dimensional antiferromagnetic long-range-ordered phase and a spin-glass phase at low temperatures. It is found that the spin-glass phase in the coexistence region also shows a diagonal spin modulation as in the puse spin-glass phase in La2-xSrxCuO4 (0.02≥x≥0.055). Below x∼0.02 the diagonal stripe structure in the same as that in x∼0.02 with a volume fraction almost proportional to hole concentration, suggesting that electronic phase separation of the doped holes occurs so that some regions with hole concentration ch∼0.02 and the rest with ch∼0 are formed. To our best knowledge, this represents the most direct observation to date of electronic phase separation in lightly doped antiferromagnets. Such phase separation has been predicted by a number of theories.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 134515 |
Pages (from-to) | 1345151-1345156 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 65 |
Issue number | 13 |
State | Published - Apr 1 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |