Raman scattering study and lattice-dynamics calculations in YTiO3: Precursor of the magnetic phase transition in the phonon anomalies

Abstract

The origin of the low-temperature ferromagnetic instability in YTiO3 driven by the interplay between lattice, orbital, spin, and charge degrees of freedom is on the background of lattice dynamics. We present a comprehensive study of temperature-dependent polarized Raman scattering in a nearly stoichiometric orthorhombic YTiO3 single crystal. The lattice-dynamics calculations authenticate the assignment for the observed Ag- and B2g-symmetry modes in terms of the atoms vibrational patterns. The obtained results suggest that trigonal GdFeO3-type distortions become unstable against tetragonal Jahn-Teller distortions, leading to the consequent orbital structure refinement and ferromagnetic ground state in YTiO3.