Ultrasound velocity measurements were performed on a single crystal of spin-frustrated ferrite spinel ZnFe$_2$O$_4$ from 300 K down to 2 K. In this cubic crystal, all the symmetrically-independent elastic moduli exhibit softening with a characteristi
c minimum with decreasing temperature below $sim$100 K. This elastic anomaly suggests a coupling between dynamical lattice deformations and molecular-spin excitations. In contrast, the elastic anomalies, normally driven by the magnetostructural phase transition and its precursor, are absent in ZnFe$_2$O$_4$, suggesting that the spin-lattice coupling cannot play a role in relieving frustration within this compound. The present study infers that, for ZnFe$_2$O$_4$, the dynamical molecular-spin state evolves at low temperatures without undergoing precursor spin-lattice fluctuations and spin-lattice ordering. It is expected that ZnFe$_2$O$_4$ provides the unique dynamical spin-lattice liquid-like system, where not only the spin molecules but also the cubic lattice fluctuate spatially and temporally.
We studied the Co valences and spin states in electron-doped LaCo$_{1-y}$Te$_{y}$O$_3$ by measuring x-ray absorption spectra and electron spin resonance. The low-temperature insulating state involves the low-spin Co$^{3+}$ ($S=0$) and the high-spin C
o$^{2+}$ state, which is described by $g=3.8$ and $j_{rm eff}=1/2$. The results, in concurrence with the electron-hole asymmetry confirmed in electrical resistivity, coincide with a spin-blockade phenomenon in this system. Further, we discuss the $g$ factor in terms of the strong covalent-bonding nature and consider multiple origins of this phenomenon.
We studied the spin-state responses to light impurity doping in low-spin perovskite LaCoO$_{3}$ (Co^3+: d^6) through magnetization and X-ray fluorescence measurements of single-crystal LaCo$_{0.99}$$M_{0.01}$O$_{3}$ ($M$ = Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni). In the mag
netization curves measured at 1.8 K, a change in the spin-state was not observed for Cr, Mn, or Fe doping but was observed for Ni doping. Strong magnetic anisotropy along the [100] easy axis was also found in the Ni-doped sample. The fluorescence measurements revealed that the valences were roughly estimated to be Cr^3+, Mn^4+, Fe^(3+delta)+, and Ni^3+. From the observed chemical trends, we propose that the chemical potential is a key factor in inducing the change of the low-spin state. By expanding a model of the ferromagnetic spin-state heptamer generated by hole doping, we discuss the emergence of highly anisotropic ferromagnetic spin-state clusters induced by low-spin Ni^3+ with Jahn-Teller activity. We also discuss applicability of the present results to mantle materials and impurity-doped pyrites with Fe (d^6).
The spin-frustrated conductor Mn$_3$Pt exhibits a characteristic magnetic structure called partial disorder in which some spin sites can form magnetic order through the generation of non-ordered sites that locally relieve the frustration. Here we rep
ort the results of a single-crystal inelastic neutron scattering study of this compound. The measured momentum $vec{Q}$ correlations of diffusive magnetic scattering reveal that the paramagnetic phase exhibits short-range spin fluctuations with the same type of partial disorder. Its relation to conductivity is also discussed.
We report single-crystal neutron diffraction studies on a spinel antiferromagnet GeCo$_2$O$_4$, which exhibits magnetic order with a trigonal propagation vector and tetragonal lattice expansion ($c/asimeq1.001$) below $T_{rm N}=21$ K. For this incons
istency between spin and lattice in symmetry, magnetic Bragg reflections with a tetragonal propagation vector were discovered below $T_{rm N}$. We discuss spin and orbital states of Co$^{2+}$ ion underlying the new magnetic component.
