No Arabic abstract
Features of low dimensional magnetism resulting from a square-net arrangement of Co atoms in trirutile CoTa$_2$O$_6$ is studied in the present work by means of density functional theory and is compared with the experimental results of specific heat and neutron diffraction. The small total energy differences between the ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) configuration of CoTa$_2$O$_6$ shows that competing magnetic ground states exist, with the possibility of transition from FM to AFM phase at low temperature. Our calculation further suggests the semi-conducting behavior for CoTa$_2$O$_6$ with a band gap of $sim$0.41 eV. The calculated magnetic anisotropy energy is $sim$2.5 meV with its easy axis along the [100] (in-plane) direction. Studying the evolution of magnetism in Co$_{1-x}$Mg$_x$Ta$_2$O$_6$ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1). it is found that the sharp AFM transition exhibited by CoTa$_2$O$_6$ at $T_N$ = 6.2 K in its heat capacity vanishes with Mg-dilution, indicating the obvious effect of weakening the superexchange pathways of Co. The current specific heat study reveals the robust nature of $T_N$ for CoTa$_2$O$_6$ in applied magnetic fields. Clear indication of short-range magnetism is obtained from the magnetic entropy, however, diffuse components are absent in neutron diffraction data. At $T_N$, CoTa$_2$O$_6$ enters a long-range ordered magnetic state which can be described using a propagation vector, (1/4, 1/4, 0). Upon Mg-dilution at $x geq$0.1, the long-range ordered magnetism is destroyed. The present results should motivate an investigation of magnetic excitations in this low-dimensional anisotropic magnet.
We present bulk and neutron scattering measurements performed on the isotopically enriched $^{154}mathrm{Sm_2Ti_2O_7}$ and $^{154}mathrm{Sm_2Sn_2O_7}$ samples. Both compounds display sharp heat capacity anomalies, at 350 mK and 440 mK, respectively. Inelastic neutron scattering measurements are employed to determine the crystalline electric field (CEF) level scheme, which includes transitions between the ground-state and first excited $J$ multiplets of the $mathrm{Sm}^{3+}$ ion. To further validate those results, the single-ion magnetic susceptibility of the compounds is calculated and compared with the experimental DC-susceptibility measured in low applied magnetic fields. It is demonstrated that the inclusion of intermultiplet transitions in the CEF analysis is fundamental to the understanding of the intermediate and, more importantly, low temperature magnetic behaviour of the Sm-based pyrochlores. Finally, the heat capacity anomaly is shown to correspond to the onset of an all-in-all-out long-range order in the stannate sample, while in the titanate a dipolar long-range order can be only indirectly inferred.
The magnetic properties of the layered oxypnictide LaMnAsO have been revisited using neutron scattering and magnetization measurements. The present measurements identify the N{e}el temperature $T_N$ = 360(1) K. Below $T_N$ the critical exponent describing the magnetic order parameter is $beta$ = 0.33$-$0.35, consistent with a three dimensional Heisenberg model. Above this temperature, diffuse magnetic scattering indicative of short-range magnetic order is observed, and this scattering persists up to $T_{SRO}$ = 650(10) K. The magnetic susceptibility shows a weak anomaly at $T_{SRO}$ and no anomaly at $T_N$. Analysis of the diffuse scattering data using a reverse Monte Carlo algorithm indicates that above $T_N$ nearly two- dimensional, short-range magnetic order is present with a correlation length of 9.3(3) {AA} within the Mn layers at 400 K. The inelastic scattering data reveal a spin-gap of 3.5 meV in the long-range ordered state, and strong, low-energy (quasi-elastic) magnetic excitations emerging in the short-range ordered state. Comparison with other related compounds correlates the distortion of the Mn coordination tetrahedra to the sign of the magnetic exchange along the layer-stacking direction, and suggests that short-range order above $T_N$ is a common feature in the magnetic behavior of layered Mn-based pnictides and oxypnictides.
The ferromagnetic (FM) nature of the metallic LaCo$_2$P$_2$ was investigated with the positive muon spin rotation, relaxation and resonance ($mu^+$SR) technique. Transverse and zero field $mu^+$SR measurements revealed that the compound enters a long range FM ground state at $T_{rm C}=130.91(65)$~K, consistent with previous studies. Based on the reported FM structure, the internal magnetic field was computed at the muon sites, which were predicted with first principles calculations. The computed result agree well with the experimental data. Moreover, although LaCo$_2$P$_2$ is a paramagnet at higher temperatures $T>160$~K, it enters a short range ordered (SRO) magnetic phase for $T_{rm C}<Tleq160$~K. Measurements below the vicinity of $T_{rm C}$ revealed that the SRO phase co-exists with the long range FM order at temperatures $124leq Tleq T_{rm C}$. Such co-existence is an intrinsic property and stems from competition between the 2D and 3D interactions/fluctuations.
We report extensive measurements on a new compound (Yb0.24Sn0.76)Ru that crystallizes in the cubic CsCl structure. Valence band photoemission and L3 x-ray absorption show no divalent component in the 4f configuration of Yb. Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) indicates that the eight-fold degenerate J-multiplet of Yb3+ is split by the crystalline electric field (CEF) into a {Gamma}7 doublet ground state and a {Gamma}8 quartet at an excitation energy 20 meV. The magnetic susceptibility can be fit very well by this CEF scheme under the assumption that a {Gamma}6 excited state resides at 32 meV; however, the {Gamma}8/{Gamma}6 transition expected at 12 meV was not observed in the INS. The resistivity follows a Bloch- Gruneisen law shunted by a parallel resistor, as is typical of systems subject to phonon scattering with no apparent magnetic scattering. All of these properties can be understood as representing simple local moment behavior of the trivalent Yb ion. At 1 K, there is a peak in specific heat that is too broad to represent a magnetic phase transition, consistent with absence of magnetic reflections in neutron diffraction. On the other hand, this peak also is too narrow to represent the Kondo effect in the {Gamma}7 ground state doublet. On the basis of the field-dependence of the specific heat, we argue that antiferromagnetic shortrange order (possibly co-existing with Kondo physics) occurs at low temperatures. The long-range magnetic order is suppressed because the Yb site occupancy is below the percolation threshold for this disordered compound.
SrHo2O4 is a geometrically frustrated magnet in which the magnetic Ho3+ ions form honeycomb layers connected through a network of zigzag chains. At low-temperature two distinct types of short-range magnetic order can be inferred from single crystal diffraction data, collected using both polarized and unpolarized neutrons. In the (hk0) plane the diffuse scattering is most noticeable around the k = 0 positions and its intensity rapidly increases at temperatures below 0.7 K. In addition, planes of diffuse scattering at Q = (hk +/- l/2) are visible at temperatures as high as 4.5 K. These planes coexist with the broad peaks of diffuse scattering in the (hk0) plane at low-temperatures. Correlation lengths associated with the broad peaks are L ~ 150 {AA} in the a-b plane and L ~ 190 {AA} along c axis, while the correlation length associated with the diffuse scattering planes is L ~ 230 {AA} along the c axis at the lowest temperature. Both types of diffuse scattering are elastic in nature. The highly unusual coexistance of the two types of diffuse scattering in SrHo2O4 is likely to be the result of the presence of two crystallographically inequivalent sites for Ho3+ in the unit cell.