Electronic structure of the electron-doped Ca0.86Pr0.14MnO3

Abstract

We have studied the temperature-dependent changes in the near ${E}_{F}$ electronic structure of the electron-doped, phase separated colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) compound, Ca${}_{0.86}$Pr${}_{0.14}$MnO${}_{3}$ using photoemission and x-ray absorption studies. At low temperatures, this compound shows a high ${e}_{g}$ electron density near the ${E}_{F}$ though the compound is insulating. Photoemission measurements further showed a temperature dependence of the ${e}_{g}$ electron occupation and localization while the complementary results of XAS showed corresponding changes in the number of unoccupied states. Our results indicate a transfer of charges from the ${t}_{2g}$ states to the ${e}_{g}$ band, probably due to a decrease in the crystal field splitting in the ferromagnetic metallic (FMM) phase following the structural changes of the MnO${}_{6}$ octahedra at low temperatures. We have interpreted our results from a FMM-antiferromagnetic insulating (AFMI) phase separation scenario.