Tuning of dielectric properties and magnetism of SrTiO₃ by site-specific doping of Mn

Combining experiments with first-principles calculations, we show that site-specific doping of Mn into SrTiO₃ has a decisive influence on the dielectric properties of these doped systems. We find that phonon contributions to the dielectric constant invariably decrease sharply on doping at any site. However, a sizable, random dipolar contribution only for Mn at the Sr site arises from a strong off-centric displacement of Mn in spite of Mn being in a non-d0 state; this leads to a large dielectric constant at higher temperatures and gives rise to a relaxor ferroelectric behavior at lower temperatures. We also investigate magnetic properties in detail and critically reevaluate the possibility of a true multiglass state in such systems.