Vibrational spectra of copper polysilicate, CuSiO3

Abstract

This is a representation of the first Raman and IR / FIR spectra for orthorhombic copper polysilicate, CuSiO3, measured at room temperature on polycrystalline samples and a comparison of the optical phonons with those observed for the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO3. CuSiO3 represents a further example of a quasi-one-dimensional spin = 1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain system. A mode assignment for the silicate is given. From the analysis of the Davydov doublets a reduced intralayer- to-interlayer bond strength of the silicate in comparison to the germanate is obtained allowing for different magnetic response at low temperature.