Orbital ordering in the two-dimensional ferromagnetic semiconductor Rb2 CrCl4

U. Schwingenschlögl*, V. Eyert

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present the results of electronic structure calculations for the two-dimensional ferromagnet Rb2 CrCl4. They are obtained by the augmented spherical wave (ASW) method as based on density functional theory and the local density approximation. In agreement with experimental data, Rb2 CrCl4 is found to be semiconducting and displays long-range ferromagnetic order of the localized Cr 3d moments. The magnetic properties are almost independent of the structural modifications arising from the Jahn-Teller instability, which leads from the parent body-centered tetragonal K2 NiF4 structure to a side-centered orthorhombic lattice. In contrast, the insulating gap is observed only for the latter structure due to the reduced symmetry. Our results thus suggest to interpret the orbital ordering as a necessary prerequisite for the opening of the gap rather than for the ferromagnetic order.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)L11-L15
JournalJournal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Volume312
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2007
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Fruitful discussions with K.-H. Höck, T. Kopp, and W. Weber are gratefully acknowledged. This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through SFB 484.

Keywords

  • Density functional theory
  • Electronic structure
  • Magnetism
  • Semiconductors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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