Induced noncollinear magnetic order ofNd3+inNdNiO3observed by resonant soft x-ray diffraction

Abstract

Soft x-ray resonant magnetic diffraction at the Nd $M$ edges was performed on a $\mathrm{Nd}\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ epitaxial film to investigate the magnetic ordering of the Nd ions below the metal-insulator transition. A noncollinear magnetic structure induced by the Ni magnetic moments best describes the azimuthal angle dependency of the $(1∕2,0,1∕2)$ reflection. This confirms the Ni spin structure observed with soft x-ray diffraction experiments performed at the Ni $L$ edge, providing further evidence of charge disproportionation without orbital order below the metal-insulator transition in $\mathrm{Nd}\mathrm{Ni}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$.