Local Electronic Structure and Dynamics of Muon-Polaron Complexes in Fe_{2}O_{3}.

Abstract

We perform detailed muon spin rotation (μSR) measurements in the classic antiferromagnet Fe_{2}O_{3} and explain the spectra by considering dynamic population and dissociation of charge-neutral muon-polaron complexes. We show that charge-neutral muon states in Fe_{2}O_{3}, despite lacking the signatures typical of charge-neutral muonium centers in nonmagnetic materials, have a significant impact on the measured μSR frequencies and relaxation rates. Our identification of such polaronic muon centers in Fe_{2}O_{3} suggests that isolated hydrogen (H) impurities form analogous complexes, and that H interstitials may be a source of charge carrier density in Fe_{2}O_{3}.