Electronic Structure of La(Fe0.88Si0.12)13

Abstract

AbstractLa(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 shows peculiar magnetic properties such as the first order paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition and magnetic-field induced metamagnetic transition accompanied by the lattice expansion. The practical application using the magnetic transition temperature controlled by hydrogen absorption is expected in this compound. Here, the electronic structure of La(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 has been investigated by photoemission spectroscopy using synchrotron soft x-rays. The Fe 3s core-level photoemission spectra below and above the Curie temperature TC exhibit a satellite structure at ~ 4.3 eV higher binding energy than the main peak, which is attributed to the exchange splitting due to the local moment of Fe. The exchange splitting of the Fe 3s photoemission spectrum with the asymmetric line shape shows that the magnetization of La(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 is derived by the exchange split Fe 3d bands like the itinerant ferromagnetism in Fe metal, while the magnetic transition of La(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 is the first order. The valence band photoemission spectrum shows temperature dependence across the TC. The temperature dependence of the photoemission spectra is discussed based on the difference between the electronic structure in the ferromagnetic phase and that in the paramagnetic phase.