Mn K-edge XANES of hexagonal manganites RMnO₃ (R = Sc, Y)

Mn K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge spectra (XANES) and magnetic studies for ferroelectromagnetic compounds RMnO₃ (R = Sc, Y) are reported. ScMnO₃ shows stronger d-p hybridization with a triangular antiferromagnetic (AF) order of T_N = 133 K and a spin reorientation T_sr = 23 K, as compared to T_N = 74 K for YMnO ₃. The identical main threshold edge energy of 6545 eV indicates Mn³⁺ character. Small pre-edge features with energy separation P ₂-P₁ of 2.27 eV for ScMnO₃ and 2.72 eV for YMnO₃ is from the 1s-3d dipole transition, which is weakly allowed through the hybridization of Mn 4p with 3d states of neighboring Mn atoms. The larger P₁ peak is corresponding to transition into empty e′↓ and e″↓ minority states, and the smaller P ₂ peak is into leftover e′↓ states.