Charge-ordered states in (La,Sr)2NiO4 for hole concentrations nh=1/3 and 1/2

Abstract
Real-space ordering of doped holes in La2x Srx NiO4 is revealed in magnetic and electronic-transport anomalies at low temperatures. The ordering is most pronounced for a hole concentration nh of 1/3 below 235 K where a superlattice with a modulation wave vector δ of 1/3 has been found. For nh=1/2, another charge-ordered state with δ=0 is also indicated below ∼340 K. Our results are, furthermore, suggestive of mesoscopic hole segregation for 0.2≤x≤0.4 forming the nh=1/3 and δ=1/3 state below 235 K.