Structural distortions of orthorhombic RFeO3 and RMnO3

Abstract

We will address in detail the structural distortions responsible for the symmetry lowering of the ideal cubic Pm-3m perovskite to the orthorhombic Pnma structure of RFeO3 and RMnO3 (R = trivalent rare-earth cation), important to the stabilization of the different magnetic and multiferroic phases in these materials. We will also show how the Amplimodes tool of Bilbao Crystallographic Server is useful in quantifying these distortions and establish which phonons can be used as probes of both the octahedra tilting and deformation.