The atomic-start description of NiO
Abstract
We have calculated magnetic properties and the electronic structure of NiO both in the paramagnetic and in magnetically-ordered state as well as zero-temperature properties and thermodynamics within the strongly-correlated crystal-field approach. It is in agreement with a Mott's suggestion that NiO is an insulator due to strong electron correlations. We have quantified crystal-field, spin-orbit and magnetic interactions of the Ni2+ ion in NiO. We have obtained that E_dd >> E_CF(=2.0 eV) >> E_{s-o}(=0.29 eV) > E_mag(=0.07 eV). The orbital moment of 0.54 mu_B amounts at 0 K, in the magnetically-ordered state, to about 20% of the total moment (2.53 mu_B). Our studies indicate that it is the highest time to "unquench" orbital magnetic moment in 3d solid-state physics and the necessity to take always into account strong intra-atomic correlations among d electrons and the intra-atomic spin-orbit coupling. Pacs: 75.25.+z, 75.10.Dg Keywords: Crystalline Electric Field, 3d oxides, magnetism, spin-orbit coupling NiO
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0503407,
title = {The atomic-start description of NiO},
author = {R. J. Radwanski and Z. Ropka},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0503407},
year = {2008}
}
Comments
4 pages in ReVTeX4, 4 figures