MnK-edge XANES of hexagonal manganites RMnO3 (R = Sc, Y)

Mn K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge spectra (XANES) and magnetic studies for ferroelectromagnetic compounds RMnO3 (R. Sc,Y) are reported. ScMnO3 shows stronger d-p hybridization with a triangular antiferromagnetic (AF) order of T-N = 133 K and a spin reorientation T-sr = 23 K, as compared to T-N = 74 K for YMnO3. The identical main threshold edge energy of 6545 eV indicates Mn3+ character. Small pre-edge features with energy separation P-2-P-1 Of 2.27 eV for ScMnO3 and 2.72 eV for YMnO3 is from the 1s-3d dipole transition, which is weakly allowed through the hybridization of Mn 4p with 3d states of neighboring Mn atoms. The larger P-1 peak is corresponding to transition into empty el'(down arrow) and e'(down arrow) minority states, and the smaller P-2 peak is into leftover e'(down arrow) states. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.