Charge-order pattern of the low-temperature phase from a monoclinic single domain of NaVO uniquely determined by resonant X-ray scattering

Owada, Kenji; Fujii, Yasuhiko; Katsuki, Yuya*; Muraoka, Jiro*; Nakao, Hironori*; Murakami, Yoichi; Sawa, Hiroshi*; Ninomiya, Emi*; Isobe, Masahiko*; Ueda, Yutaka*

The present resonant X-ray scattering has been performed on a monoclinically-split single domain of NaVO. The observation of a critically enhanced contrast between V and V ions has led us to the unequivocal conclusion of the charge-order pattern of low-temperature phase of NaVO below = 35 K. In spite of the possible four types of configuration of the zig-zag-type charge-order patterns in the -plane (A, A', B and B'), the stacking sequence along the -axis is determined as the AAA'A' type by comparison with model calculations. By assigning the A and A' configurations to Ising spins, one can reasonably explain the previously discovered "devil's staircase"-type behavior with respect to the modulation of layer-stacking sequences at high pressures and low temperatures, which clearly resembles the global phase diagram theoretically predicted by the ANNNI model.