Laser‐induced phonon and magnon properties of NiO nanoparticles: A Raman study

Abstract In the present study, the influence of laser intensity on phonon and magnon properties of nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles were extensively studied using room temperature Raman spectroscopy. The required NiO nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple sol–gel method. The structural and morphological properties were characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The rarely reported surface optical (SO) phonon modes of NiO nanoparticles were observed and well‐studied using the dielectric continuum (DC) model. A mismatch between the experimental and DC model SO phonon wavenumbers were observed and is attributed to one magnon‐induced first order phonon shift. The difference between the experimental and DC model SO phonon wavenumbers were reduced with increase in laser power, which indicates the diminishing behavior of magnon excitations. The laser power dependency of highly distinguishable two magnon (2 M) excitation of NiO nanoparticles were well studied. The 2 M modes were experienced a red shift and decrease in intensity with increase in laser power.