Evidence for Jahn-Teller distortions at the antiferromagnetic transition in LaTiO$_3$

Abstract

LaTiO$_3$ is known as Mott-insulator which orders antiferromagnetically at $T_{\rm N}=146$ K. We report on results of thermal expansion and temperature dependent x-ray diffraction together with measurements of the heat capacity, electrical transport measurements, and optical spectroscopy in untwinned single crystals. At $T_{\rm N}$ significant structural changes appear, which are volume conserving. Concomitant anomalies are also observed in the dc-resistivity, in bulk modulus, and optical reflectivity spectra. We interpret these experimental observations as evidence of orbital order.

4 pages, 4 figures; published in Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 066403 (2003)