Mn-induced Fermi-surface reconstruction in the SmFeAsO parent compound

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Solid State Chemistry

Background:

• Iron-based materials exhibit electronic ground states sensitive to correlations.
• Magnetic impurities in FeAs layers significantly impact the delicate balance of these materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the effects of iron-to-manganese (Fe-to-Mn) substitution in the Sm-1111 pnictide parent compound.
• Analyze how Mn impurities influence the magnetic properties and electronic structure of SmFeAsO.

Main Methods:

• Comparative study of SmFe[Formula: see text]Mn[Formula: see text]AsO samples with varying Mn content ([Formula: see text] = 0.05, 0.10).
• Utilized magnetization, Hall effect, and muon-spin spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• Observed weakening of the commensurate spin-density-wave (SDW) order with increasing Mn content.
• Identified a decrease in the SDW transition temperature ([Formula: see text]).
• Detected a new magnetic order appearing at distinct temperatures for different Mn concentrations.

Conclusions:

• Fe-to-Mn substitution reorganizes the Fermi surface, leading to enhanced magnetic fluctuations.
• RKKY interactions among Mn impurities further influence magnetic ordering.
• The study provides insights into the complex magnetic behavior of substituted iron-based pnictides.