We have performed a deep spectroscopic study of incommensurate satellite reflections (h, k, l) ± (0,0.278, 0) on a TbMnO3 single crystal in order to shed light on its physical origin. Resonant x-ray scattering experiments at the Mn K-edge and Tb L3-edge have been performed at different temperatures and azimuthal angles, analyzing the outgoing light polarization. Our experimental results agree with a magnetic origin for A and C-type reflections, while F and G-type have the hallmarks of anisotropic tensor susceptibility (ATS) reflections, so that they come purely from the structural modulation.

Trabajo presentado a la 15th International Conference on X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS15), celebrada del 22 al 28 de julio de 2012 en Pekín (China).-- Licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento 3.0

The authors thank ESRF for granting beam time, especially ID20 staff. Financial support from Spanish MICINN (project FIS08-03951 and MAT2007-61621) and DGA (CAMRADS) is acknowledged.

Peer Reviewed