Close correlation between the magnetic moments, lattice distortions, and hybridization in LaMnO3 and La1-xSrxMnO3+δ:: Doping-dependent magnetic circular X-ray dichroism study -: art. no. 246404

The first observation of a magnetic circular x-ray dichroism (MCXD) at the Mn L-2,L-3 core edges in antiferromagnetic LaMnO3 shows canted spin and orbital (mb) moments arising from lattice distortions. An L-2,L-3-edge MCXD in ferromagnetic metals and insulators, La1-xSrxMnO3+delta, reveals that m(orb) of Mn strongly depends on x in the metallic regime but remains unchanged with the metal-to-insulator transition (x similar to 0.16). An O K-edge MCXD, which shows m(orb) of O caused by 2p-3d hybridization, is much larger in the ferromagnetic metal than insulator phases, sharply contrasting with m(orb) of Mn. Our findings indicate a close magnetism-lattice-hybridization coupling.