Direct observation of localization of the minority-spin-band electrons in magnetite below the Verwey temperature

作者:Kobayashi Hisao*; Nagao Toshihiro; Itou Masayoshi; Todo Sakae; Barbiellini Bernardo; Mijnarends Peter E; Bansil Arun; Sakai Nobuhiko
来源:Physical Review B, 2009, 80(10): 104423.
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevB.80.104423

摘要

Two-dimensional spin-uncompensated momentum density distributions, rho(2D)(s)(p)s, were reconstructed in magnetite at 12 and 300 K from several measured directional magnetic Compton profiles. Mechanical detwinning was used to overcome severe twinning in the single-crystal sample below the Verwey transition. The reconstructed rho(2D)(s)(p) in the first Brillouin zone changes from being negative at 300 K to positive at 12 K. This result provides the first clear evidence that electrons with low momenta in the minority-spin bands in magnetite are localized below the Verwey transition temperature.