Unraveling the Mn $L_3$-edge RIXS spectrum of lightly manganese doped Sr${}_3$Ru${}_2$O${}_7$

Abstract

Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) experiment was performed at the Mn $L_3$ edge. A 10 $\%$ Mn-doped Sr${}_3$Ru${}_2$O${}_7$ compound, where the Mn${}^{3+}$ ions are in the 3$d^4$ state, were probed for $dd$ excitations. The dilute doping concentration allows one to treat the dopant Mn${}^{3+}$ ions as effectively free in the host ruthenium compound. The local nature of $dd$ RIXS spectroscopy permits one to use a single-site model to simulate the experimental spectra. The simulated spectra reproduces the in-plane [100] experimental RIXS spectrum. We also predict the intensity for the in-plane [110] direction and the out-of-plane spin orientation configuration [001]. Based on our single-ion model we were able to fit the experimental data to obtain the crystal field parameters, the 10Dq value, and the intra-orbital spin-flip energy 2$\mathcal{J}$(or $3J_H$, where $J_H$ is the Hund's energy) of the Mn${}^{3+}$ ion. Utilizing our computed RIXS quantum transition amplitudes between the various $d$ orbitals of the Mn${}^{3+}$ ion, the expression for the Kramers-Heisenberg cross section, and a self-consistent fitting procedure we also identify the energy boundaries of the non-spin-flip and spin-flip $dd$ excitations present in the experimental data. From our fitting procedure we obtain $2\mathcal{J}(3J_H)=2.06$ eV, a value which is in excellent agreement with that computed from the free ion Racah parameters. We also identified the charge transfer boundary. In addition to predicting the microscopic parameters, we find a quantum spin-flip transition in the non-cross (${\sigma }_{in}-{\sigma }_{out}$, ${\pi }_{in}-{\pi }_{out}$) x-ray polarization channels of the $dd$ RIXS spectra. A similar transition, was previously predicted to occur in the $\pi -\pi$ channel of the magnon spectrum in the non-collinear non-coplanar Kagome compound composed of Cu${}^{2+}$ 3d${}^9$ ion.

12 pages, 7 figures, see PDF text for full abstract info