Magnetic and electronic properties of RNiO₃ (R = Pr, Nd, Eu, Ho and Y) perovskites studied by resonant soft x-ray magnetic powder diffraction

Abstract

Soft x-ray resonant magnetic powder diffraction of the $(\frac {1}{2}~0~\frac {1}{2})$ reflection at the Ni L₂, ₃ edges is used to study the magnetic and electronic properties of a series of RNiO₃ materials (with R = Pr, Nd, Eu, Ho and Y) below the metal–insulator transition. The polarization and energy dependence of the reflection gives further support for a non-collinear magnetic structure and charge disproportionation in the whole RNiO₃ series. Only small changes in the spectra of the magnetic $(\frac {1}{2}~0~\frac {1}{2})$ reflection and in the absorption spectra could be detected. The results are discussed with comparison to charge transfer multiplet calculations. Our results emphasize that the lighter and heavier RNiO₃ compounds are very similar from the point of view of their local electronic and magnetic state despite the strong change of the metal-to-insulator transition temperature