High-Resolution Spectroscopy of the ErCrO3 Crystal: A New Phase Transition?

• Published in: JETP letters Vol. 118; no. 2; pp. 92 - 99
• Main Authors: Jablunovskis, A., Chukalina, E. P., Yin, L. H., Popova, M. N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01-07-2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Atomic; Biological and Medical Physics; Biophysics; Condensed Matter; Crystal growth; Crystal structure; High resolution; Infrared absorption; Infrared spectra; Line spectra; Liquid helium; Molecular; Optical and Plasma Physics; Particle and Nuclear Physics; Phase transitions; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Information Technology; Solid State Physics; Spintronics; Temperature dependence
• ISSN: 0021-3640; 1090-6487
• DOI: 10.1134/S0021364023601884

Infrared absorption spectra of the ErCrO
3
crystal in the region of
transitions in the Er
3+
ion are recorded for the first time. An analysis of high-resolution temperature-dependent spectra reveals a step at
K on the temperature dependences of the characteristics of spectral lines, in addition to the features at temperatures of magnetic ordering
T
N
= 133 K and spin-reorientation transition
K. This feature can be associated with either a previously unknown phase transition or with local changes in the crystal structure. The shape of the lines at liquid helium temperatures indicates the presence of additional positions for Er
3+
ions in the ErCrO
3
crystal. Presumably, these are positions near uncontrolled impurities that enter the crystal during its growth by the solution–melt method and form regions with a distorted structure responsible for the occurrence of polarization.