Magnetic Order in Perovskite Pr1-xBaxCoO3 Studied by Magnetic Circular Dichroism (MCD) Spectroscopy

Magnetic properties have been studied for the perovskite Pr1-xBaxCoO3 (0x0.5). Ferromagnetic order is observed below ~190 K for x0.2 in dc susceptibility-temperature curves. Magnetic circular dichroism spectra were measured for a ferromagnetic phase at Co-L2,3, Pr-M4,5, Ba-M4,5, and O-K edges. It is revealed that the Co ion has both spin and orbital moments. It is also observed that the Ba 4f orbitals have a localized moment and exhibit ferromagnetic order at low temperatures, though Ba2+ is expected to be almost only in a nonmagnetic 4f0 state. Magnetic order is observed also for Pr 4f and O 2p.