Tuning the terahertz low-energy charge dynamics by simultaneous effect of epitaxial and anisotropic strain in PrNiO3 thin films

Abstract

The interplay of charge, spin, and lattice correlations strongly influence the insulator-metal (I-M) transition and magnetic ordering in rare earth nickelates. In this context, we explored the low-energy charge dynamics in structurally modulated $\mathrm{PrNi}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (PNO) thin films to unravel the complexity of ground state across I-M transition using terahertz (THz) spectroscopy. The THz optical constants of compressive film on $\mathrm{LaAl}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (100) substrate and the tensile films on $\mathrm{NdGa}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (100), (001), (110), and (111) substrates with varying orthorhombic distortion exhibit remarkably distinct features as a function of frequency and temperature. The THz conductivity of compressive film sans any I-M transition follows the Drude model. In contrast, the tensile strained films exhibit non-Drude THz conductivity, a giant positive dielectric permittivity, and negative imaginary conductivity, all of which can be explained by the Drude-Smith model. This rich variety of low-energy dynamics manifests as a function of temperature, strain, and crystal orientation. Such distinct THz spectral features, as induced by a subtle variation in strain while crossing over from tensile to compressive strain and with varying degree of orthorhombicity coupled with oxygen vacancies, reveal a novel facet of structure-property relationship of PNO.