Coexisting magnetic structures and spin-reorientation in Er$_{0.5}$Dy$_{0.5}$FeO$_{3}$: Bulk magnetization, neutron scattering, specific heat, and emph{Ab-initio} studies


Abstract in English

The complex magnetic structures, spin-reorientation and correlated exchange interactions have been investigate in Er$_{0.5}$Dy$_{0.5}$FeO$_3$ using bulk magnetization, neutron diffraction, specific heat measurements and density functional theory calculations. The Fe$^{3+}$ spins order as G-type antiferromagnet structure depicted by ${Gamma}_{4}$($G_{x}$,$A_{y}$,$F_{z}$) irreducible representation below 700K, similar to its end compounds. The bulk magnetization data indicate occurrence of the spin-reorientation and rare-earth magnetic ordering below $sim$75 K and 10 K, respectively. The neutron diffraction studies confirm an incomplete ${Gamma}_{4}$${rightarrow}$ ${Gamma}_{2}$($F_{x}$,$C_{y}$,$G_{z}$) spin-reorientation initiated $leq$75 K. Although, the relative volume fraction of the two magnetic structures varies with decreasing temperature, both co-exist even at 1.5 K. At 8 K, Er$^{3+}$/Dy$^{3+}$ moments order as $c_{y}^R$ arrangement develop, which gradually increases in intensity with decreasing temperature. At 2 K, magnetic structure associated with $c_{z}^R$ arrangement of Er$^{3+}$/Dy$^{3+}$ moments also appears. At 1.5 K the magnetic structure of Fe$^{3+}$ spins is represented by a combination of ${Gamma}_{2}$+${Gamma}_{4}$+${Gamma}_{1}$, while the rare earth moments coexists as $c_{y}^R$ and $c_{z}^R$ corresponding to ${Gamma}_{2}$ and ${Gamma}_{1}$ representation, respectively. The observed Schottky anomaly at 2.5 K suggests that the rare-earth ordering is induced by polarization due to Fe$^{3+}$ spins. The Er$^{3+}$-Fe$^{3+}$ and Er$^{3+}$-Dy$^{3+}$ exchange interactions, obtained from first principle calculations, primarily cause the complicated spin-reorientation and $c_{y}^R$ rare-earth ordering, respectively, while the dipolar interactions between rare-earth moments, result in the $c_{z}^R$ type rare-earth ordering at 2 K.

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