Evidence for local structural symmetry-breaking in Ca${}_{1-x}$Eu${}_x$B${}_6$

Abstract

In this work we present a systematic Raman Scattering study in the Ca${}_{1-x}$% Eu${}_x$B${}_6$ series ($0.00⩽x⩽1.00$). Our results are the first experimental evidence for the occurrence of a local symmetry break of the crystalline structure in this system. The local symmetry of some Boron octahedra is tetragonal instead of cubic. This result may explain the appearance of ferromagnetism in Eu-hexaborades since magnetic ordering is forbidden in the $O_h$ space group of this system.

Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett