Optical probe of strong correlations in LaNiO\(_{3} \) thin films

The optical properties of LaNiO\(_3\) thin films are investigated over a wide energy and temperature range. Thin films of varying thickness were epitaxially grown by pulsed laser deposition on LaAlO\(_3\) and SrTiO\(_3\) substrates. The optical conductivity data of the films reveal a number of inter...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Stewart, M K, Liu, Jian, Smith, R K, Chapler, B C, C - H Yee, Haule, K, Chakhalian, J, Basov, D N
Format Paper Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 18.05.2010
Subjects
Band structure
Band structure of solids
Epitaxial growth
Kinetic energy
Mathematical analysis
Optical properties
Physics - Strongly Correlated Electrons
Pulsed laser deposition
Pulsed lasers
Substrates
Thickness
Thin films
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Summary:The optical properties of LaNiO\(_3\) thin films are investigated over a wide energy and temperature range. Thin films of varying thickness were epitaxially grown by pulsed laser deposition on LaAlO\(_3\) and SrTiO\(_3\) substrates. The optical conductivity data of the films reveal a number of interband transitions above 1 eV which are in good agreement with band structure calculations. No well defined Drude peak is observed however, in stark contrast with LDA theory predicting a finite density of states at the Fermi energy. This experimental finding of a vanishing Drude spectral weight, compared to a finite electron kinetic energy obtained from band structure calculations, highlights the importance of strong electronic correlations in LaNiO\(_3\).
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1005.3314