Local Structure of Multiferroic MnWO₄ and Mn_0.7Co_0.3WO₄ Revealed by the Evolutionary Algorithm

Abstract

A novel reverse Monte Carlo/evolutionary algorithm scheme was applied to the analysis of the W L₃-edge and Mn(Co) K-edges EXAFS spectra from multiferroic MnWO₄ and Mn_0.7Co_0.3WO₄. A 3D structural model, consistent with the experimental data, was obtained, and the influence of composition and temperature on the local structure of tungstates is discussed.

• Keywords EXAFS
• reverse Monte Carlo
• evolutionary algorithm
• wavelet transform
• tungstates

Funding

The work was supported by European Social Fund within the projects No. 2009/0138/1DP/1.1.2.1.2/09/IPIA/VIAA/004 (“Support for Doctoral Studies at University of Latvia”) and Latvian Science Council Grant No. 187/2012. The EXAFS experiments at HASYLAB/DESY were supported by the EC FP7 under grant agreement No. 226716.