Raman studies of nearly half-metallic ferromagnet CoS2

We measured the Raman spectra of ferromagnetic nearly half metal CoS2 in a broad temperature range. All five Raman active modes Ag, Eg, Tg(1), Tg(2) and Tg(3) were observed. The magnetic ordering is indicated by a change of the temperature dependences of the frequency and the line width of Ag and T g(2) modes at the Curie point. The temperature dependence of the frequencies and linewidths of the Ag, Eg, Tg(1), T g(2) modes in the paramagnetic phase can be described in the framework of the Klemens approach. Hardening of the Tg(2), Tg(1) and A g modes on cooling can be unambiguously seen in the ferromagnetic phase. The linewidths of Tg(2) and Ag modes behave a natural way at low exciting laser power (decrease with decreasing temperature) in the ferromagnetic phase. At high exciting laser power the corresponding linewidths increase at temperature decreasing below the Curie temperature. Then as can be seen the line width of Ag mode reaches a maxima at about 80K. This intriging feature probably signifies a specific channel of the optical phonon decay in the ferromagnetic phase of CoS2. Tentative explanations of some of the observed effects are given, taking into account the nearly half metallic nature of CoS2.