Optical and magneto-optical spectroscopy of manganites

The present review is concerned with optical and magneto-optical (MO) properties of manganites studied by optical absorption, ellipsometry and the transverse Kerr effect (TKE). The possibilities of these methods for getting information on the electronic structure of manganites, its relationship with the magnetic ordering and phase separation are demonstrated. Different approaches for description spectra (the band approach, cluster methods and effective medium theory) are used. Evolution of manganites’ optical and MO spectra under doping, temperature and magnetic field is discussed. The features of TKE spectra are connected with charge-transfer transitions in MnO6 complexes with different valence.