Abstract
A lightly doped manganite La 0.88 Sr 0.12 MnO 3 exhibits a phase transition at TOO= 145 K from a ferromagnetic metal (TC = 172 K) to a novel ferromagnetic insulator. We identify that the key parameter in the transition is the orbital degree of freedom in e g electrons. By utilizing the resonant x-ray scattering, orbital ordering is directly detected below TOOin spite of a significant diminution of the cooperative Jahn-Teller distortion. The experimental features are well described by a theory treating the orbital degree of freedom under strong electron correlation. The present studies uncover a crucial role of the orbital degree of freedom in the metal-insulator transition in lightly doped manganites.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4328-4331 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 82 |
| Issue number | 21 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1999 |