High-resolution neutron powder diffraction has been applied to determine the structural evolution in the orthorhombic perovskite R CrO3 family. The structural distortions observed have been found to be closely related to the dramatic variation in the magnetic ordering temperature T N. In addition to the reduction in the orbital overlap integral that can account for the change in TN in the R FeO3 family, the effect of t-e hybridization due to the structural distortions are responsible for the dramatic change in TN across the R CrO3 family. © 2010 The American Physical Society.

This work was supported by NSF Grant No. DMR 0904282 and the Robert A Welch Foundation Grant No. F-1066, as well as the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation Grant No. MAT2007-60536. The neutron diffraction performed at PSI, Switzerland was partially supported by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Program through the “Research Infrastructures” action of the “Capacities” Program, Contract No. CP-CSA_INFRA-2008-1.1.1 Number 226507-NMI3’.

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