Gigantic Kerr rotation induced by a d-d transition resonance in MCr2S4 (M=Mn,Fe)

K. Ohgushi, T. Ogasawara, Y. Okimoto, S. Miyasaka, Y. Tokura

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31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) has been investigated for ferrimagnetic spinel compounds MCr2S4 (M=Mn and Fe). In FeCr2S4, the gigantic magneto-optical response, reaching up to 4.3° in Kerr rotation, is observed at the energy of the intra-atomic d-d transition of Fe2+, E5→T25. By analyzing the resonance feature in the framework of the ligand field theory, we have clarified that the large oscillator strength enhanced by the strong covalency of the ligand sulfur as well as the local breakdown of inversion symmetry at the Fe2+ site is responsible for the gigantic signal. In MnCr2S4, the spin-forbidden d-d transition (A16→T14) of Mn2+ is revealed in the MOKE spectra, which is not discernible in the optical reflectivity spectra.

Original languageEnglish
Article number155114
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume72
Issue number15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005 Oct 15
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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