Rare Earth

This book elucidates fascinating electronic phenomena of unusual Bi2-square net in layered R2O2Bi (R: rare earth) compounds using two approaches: the fabrication of epitaxial thin films and the synthesis of bulk polycrystalline powders. The Bi2-square net compounds are a promising platform to explore exotic physical properties originating from the interplay between a two-dimensional electronic state and strong spin–orbit coupling; however, there are few reports on Bi2-square net compounds due to the instability of unusual electronic configurations.

This thesis presents an experimental study of ordering phenomena in rare-earth nickelate-based heterostructures by means of inelastic Raman light scattering and elastic resonant x-ray scattering (RXS). Further, it demonstrates that the amplitude ratio of magnetic moments at neighboring nickel sites can be accurately determined by RXS in combination with a correlated double cluster model, and controlled experimentally through structural pinning of the oxygen positions in the crystal lattice.