Abstract
The spin-charge-orbital complex structures of manganites are studied using topological concepts. The key quantity is the “winding number” associated with the Berry-phase connection of an electron parallel transported through Jahn-Teller centers, along zigzag one-dimensional paths in an antiferromagnetic environment of spins. From these concepts, it is shown that the “bi-stripe” and “Wigner-crystal” states observed experimentally have different 's. Predictions for the spin structure of the charge-ordered states for heavily doped manganites are discussed.
- Received 16 August 1999
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2477
©2000 American Physical Society