Resolving the Octahedral Tilt Order in La<sub>2-x</sub>Sr<sub>x</sub>CuO<sub>4</sub>

ORAL

Abstract

The pattern of tilts of CuO6 octahedra in 214 cuprates can have a large impact on the electronic order. For example, a phase in which the octahedra rotate about the Cu-O bonds is known to pin stripe order in La2-xBaxCuO4. In La2-xSrxCuO4, it has been believed that the octahedral rotations are only about an axis at 45° to the Cu-O bonds. In a recent neutron scattering study of an x = 0.07 crystal, we found evidence that there is also a tilt component about the Cu-O bonds [1]. To further explore the situation, we have performed a crystallographic study of the parent compound, La2CuO4, on the 4-circle diffractometer HB-3A at HFIR (ORNL). While confirming that the crystal has monoclinic symmetry, as previously reported, we have verified a new set of superlattice peaks (hkl) with h and k odd, l even. These reflections are consistent with a tilt component about the Cu-O bonds and require a revision of the space group.
[1] H. Jacobsen et al., Phys. Rev. B 92, 174525 (2015).

*Work at BNL supported by Office of Basic Energy Sciences, US DOE, under Contract No. DE-SC0012704.

Presenters

  • John Tranquada

    • Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Condensed Matter &materials Science, Brookhaven Natl Lab
    • Brookhaven Natl Lab
    • Brookhaven Natl. Lab

Authors

  • John Tranquada

    • Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Condensed Matter &materials Science, Brookhaven Natl Lab
    • Brookhaven Natl Lab
    • Brookhaven Natl. Lab
  • Yangmu Li

    • Brookhaven Natl Lab
  • Genda Gu

    • Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Brookhaven National Labs
    • Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Condensed Matter Physics and Material Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Condensed Matter &materials Science, Brookhaven Natl Lab
    • Brookhaven Natl Lab
    • Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Brookhaven Natl. Lab
    • Brookhaven National Lab
    • Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • brookhaven national laboratory
  • Igor Zaliznyak

    • Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Brookhaven National Laboratory
    • Brookhaven Natl Lab
  • Huibo Cao

    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Neutron Sciences Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Lab
    • Oak Ridge National Lab
    • Oak Ridge Natl Lab
    • Quantum Condensed Matter Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory