Electronic and Magnetic Structure of Double-Perovskite ${\hbox {Sr}}_{2}{\hbox {FeMoO}}_{6}$ Characterized by Neutron Scattering and X-Ray Spectroscopy

Electronic and magnetic structures of a polycrystalline Sr₂FeMoO₆ double-perovskite have been studied by employing neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and X-ray spectroscopy. The Fe 2p edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) clearly exhibits Fe²⁺-Fe^{3 +} mixed valence states. Small but considerable local spin magnetic moments at Mo sites were observed in both neutron scattering and site-specific X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements. The mixed valence states by XAS and consistently observed nonnegligible magnetic moment by NPD and XMCD confirm the electronic and magnetic structures of Sr₂FeMoO₆ which have been controversial thus far.