Electronic and Magnetic Structure of Double-Perovskite ${\hbox{Sr}}_{2}{\hbox{FeMoO}}_{6}$ Characterized by Neutron Scattering and X-Ray Spectroscopy

Electronic and magnetic structures of a polycrystalline Sr
₂
FeMoO
₆
double-perovskite have been studied by employing neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and X-ray spectroscopy. The Fe 2p edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) clearly exhibits Fe
²⁺
-Fe
^{3 +}
mixed valence states. Small but considerable local spin magnetic moments at Mo sites were observed in both neutron scattering and site-specific X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements. The mixed valence states by XAS and consistently observed nonnegligible magnetic moment by NPD and XMCD confirm the electronic and magnetic structures of Sr
₂
FeMoO
₆
which have been controversial thus far.