The incommensurate (IC) spin ordering in quasi-1D edge-shared cuprate NaCu_2O_2 has been studied by ^{23}Na nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in an external magnetic field near 6 Tesla applied along the main crystallographic axes. The NMR lineshape evolution above and below T_Napprox12 K yields a clear signature of an IC static modulation of the local magnetic field consistent with a Cu^{2+} spin spiral polarized in the bc-plane rather than in the ab-plane as reported from earlier neutron diffraction data.
In the nematic state of iron-based superconductors, twin formation often obscures the intrinsic, anisotropic, in-plane physical properties.Relatively high in-plane external magnetic fields $H_{rm ext}$ greater than the typical lab-scale magnetic fiel
ds 10--15 T are usually required to completely detwin a sample. However, recently a very small in-plane $H_{rm ext} sim$ 0.1 T was found to be sufficient for detwinning the nematic domains in EuFe$_2$As$_2$. To explain this behavior, a microscopic theory based on biquadratic magnetic interactions between the Eu and Fe spins has been proposed. Here, using $^{153}$Eu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements below the Eu$^{2+}$ ordering temperature, we show experimental evidence of the detwinning under small in-plane $H_{rm ext}$. Our NMR study also reveals the evolution of the angles between the Eu and Fe spins during the detwinning process, which provides the first experimental evidence for the existence of biquadratic coupling in the system.
We report on a detailed neutron diffraction and $^1$H-NMR study on the frustrated spin-1/2 chain material linarite, PbCuSO$_4$(OH)$_2$, where competing ferromagnetic nearest neighbor and antiferromagnetic next-nearest neighbor interactions lead to fr
ustration. From the magnetic Bragg peak intensity studied down to 60 mK, the magnetic moment per Cu atom is obtained within the whole magnetic phase diagram for $H parallel b$ axis. Further, we establish the detailed configurations of the shift of the SDW propagation vector in phase V with field and temperature. Finally, combining our neutron diffraction results with those from a low-temperature/high-field NMR study we find an even more complex phase diagram close to the quasi-saturation field suggesting that bound two-magnon excitations are the lowest energy excitations close to and in the quasi-saturation regime. Qualitatively and semi-quantitatively, we relate such behavior to $XYZ$ exchange anisotropy and contributions from the Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction to affect the magnetic properties of linarite.
Na0.5CoO2 exhibits a metal-insulator transition at 53 K upon cooling. The nature of another transition at 88 K has not been fully clarified yet. We report the results of measurements of the electrical conductivity, the magnetic susceptibility and 23N
a NMR on a powder sample of Na0.5CoO2, including the mapping of NMR spectra, as well as probing the spin-lattice relaxation rate and the spin-spin relaxation rate, in the temperature range between 30 K and 305 K. The NMR data reflect the transition at T_X very well but provide less evidence for the metal-insulator transition at T_MI. The temperature evolution of the shape of the spectra implies the formation of a staggered internal field below T_X, not accompained by a rearrangement of the electric charge distribution. Our results thus indicate that in Na0.5CoO2, an unusual type of magnetic ordering in the metallic phase precedes the onset of charge ordering, which finally induces an insulating ground state.
The origin of the spiral spin-order in perovskite multiferroic manganites $R$MnO$_{3}$ ($RE=$ Tb or Dy) is here investigated using a two $e_{rm g}$-orbitals double-exchange model. Our main result is that the experimentally observed spiral phase can b
e stabilized by introducing a relatively weak next-nearest-neighbor superexchange coupling ($sim10%$ of the nearest-neighbor superexchange). Moreover, the Jahn-Teller lattice distortion is also shown to be essential to obtain a realistic spiral period. Supporting our conclusions, the generic phase diagram of undoped perovskite manganites is obtained using Monte Carlo simulations, showing phase transitions from the A-type antiferromagnet, to the spiral phase, and finally to the E-type antiferromagnet, with decreasing size of the $R$ ions. These results are qualitatively explained by the enhanced relative intensity of the superexchanges.
Spiral spin liquids are unique classical spin liquids that occur in many frustrated spin systems, but do not comprise a new phase of matter. Owing to extensive classical ground-state degeneracy, the spins in a spiral spin liquid thermally fluctuate c
ooperatively from a collection of spiral configurations at low temperatures. These spiral propagation wavevectors form a continuous manifold in reciprocal space, textit{i.e.}, a spiral contour or a spiral surface, that strongly governs the low-temperature thermal fluctuations and magnetic physics. In this paper, the relevant spin models conveying the spiral spin liquid physics are systematically explored and the geometric origin of the spiral manifold is clarified in the model construction. The spiral spin liquids based on the dimension and the codimension of the spiral manifold are further clarified. For each class, the physical properties are studied both generally and for specific examples. The results are relevant to a wide range of frustrated magnets. A survey of materials is given and future experiments are suggested.