Resonant X-ray study on the Bi-layered perovskite Mn oxide LaSr ₂Mn₂O₇

Charge and orbital ordering behaviors in the half doped bi-layered compound LaSr₂Mn₂O₇ have been studied by resonant and non-resonant x-ray scattering. Three different order parameters, which correspond to the A-type antiferromagnetism, charge ordering and orbital ordering, were observed by measuring the magnetostriction and the superlattice peaks characterized by wavevectors (1/2 1/2 0) and (1/4 1/4 0), respectively. The superlattice reflections indicating the charge and orbital ordered states were observed below 210 K. Both the intensities reach a maximum at 160 K on cooling and become very weak below 100 K. The peak width of the charge ordered state agrees with that of the orbital ordered state at all temperatures studied. These results indicate that both the states originate from a single phase and that the charge/orbital ordered islands with definite interfaces disperse in the A-type antiferromagnetic phase. The dimensionality of the charge/orbital ordered phase is discussed using this model.