Magnetic polaron structures in the one-dimensional double and super-exchange model

An analytical and numerical study of the one-dimensional double and super-exchange model is presented. A phase separation between ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic phases occurs at low super-exchange interaction energy. When the super-exchange interaction energy gets larger, the conduction electrons are self-trapped within separate small magnetic polarons. These magnetic polarons contain a single electron inside two or three sites depending on the conduction electron density and form a Wigner crystallization. A new phase separation is found between these small polarons and the anti-ferromagnetic phase. Our results could explain the spin-glass-like behavior observed in the nickelate one-dimensional compound Y 2−xCaxBaNiO5.