Energy bands and electron correlation effects in manganese pnictides

The optical spectra of MnV compounds (V = P, As, Sb, Bi) do not yield unambiguous evidence on the absorption mechanisms beyond that expected from one‐electron excitations in a spin‐polarized energy band description, although the scattering of the conduction electrons indicates strong d‐electron correlations; in particular, since the scattering is comparable to that of s‐electrons on open 3d and 4f shells a decomposition of the 3d4 cation state into extended and quasi‐localized electron states is suggested.