Abstract
A relationship between evolution of the long-range magnetic order, crystal structure, and lattice distortions in was studied by a combination of neutron diffraction and Raman spectroscopy at high pressures up to 39 and 50 GPa, respectively, covering the temperature range 5 to 290 K. The Raman spectra reveal a gradual structural phase transformation evolving in the pressure range of 4 to 17 GPa, caused by a modification of the Jahn-Teller (JT) lattice distortions from the static cooperative character to the local one. A presence of residual JT-distorted regions associated with the initial phase is detected up to 32 GPa, where the insulator-metal transition occurs. At higher pressure, the local JT distortions also vanish completely at further compression up to 50 GPa. In the neutron diffraction data, a strong suppression of the A-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase is observed over the pressure region of the phase transformation. This is accompanied by a noticeable reduction in magnitude of the and JT local modes. The effective ordered magnetic manganese moment is reduced about twice at pressures up to 14 GPa. At higher pressures up to 30 GPa, residual regions of the A-type AFM phase coexist with the magnetically disordered phase. In the range 30 to 39 GPa, i.e., during the pressure-induced insulator-metal transition, these regions disappear and, finally, the magnetically disordered metallic phase becomes the only ground state. The possible models of the insulator-metal transition in are analyzed.
- Received 27 September 2022
- Revised 3 April 2023
- Accepted 6 April 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.107.144426
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