X-ray resonant scattering study of the incommensurate charge-orbital density wave in La2-2xSr1+2xMn2O7 (x=0.7)

Orbital order has been proposed theoretically for more than half a century, and has subsequently been observed in a huge range of materials. Charge ordering is generally accompanied by a transition from a metal to an insulator. In manganites, colossal magneto-resistance (CMR) is associated with competition between charge and orbital antiferromagnetic insulating phases and ferromagnetic metallic phases. Initial models of charge and orbital order in the manganites concentrated on the chequerboard charge order structure, observed in many half doped systems. Incommensurate charge ordering and structural distortions have been identified in La0.6Sr2.4Mn2O7 through the observation of superlattice reflections using resonant x-ray scattering. Such structural distortions are indicative of concomitant orbital order, leading to our proposal of an incommensurate charge-orbital density wave. Superlattice structural distortion reflections were observed with a modulation vector (0.178, 0.178, 0), and charge order reflections with a modulation vector (0.356, 0.356, 0). Low temperature charge order melting, observed in the half doped bilayer manganite, is not present due to the absence of long range magnetic order.