Optical Studies of a Layered Manganite La_(1.2)Sr_(1.8)Mn₂O₇ : Polaron Correlation Effect

Optical conductivity spectra of a cleaved ab-plane of a La_{1.2}Sr_{1.8}Mn_2O_7 single crystal exhibit a small polaron absorption band in the mid-infrared region at overall temperatures. With decreasing temperature (T) to Curie temperature (T_C), the center frequency of the small polaron band moves to a higher frequency, resulting in a gap-like feature, and that it collapses to a lower frequency below T_C. Interestingly, with decreasing T, the stretching phonon mode hardens above T_C and softens below T_C. These concurring changes of lattice and electronic structure indicate that short range polaron correlation exist above T_C but disappear with a magnetic ordering.