Temperature-dependent light scattering from magnetic excitons in TlCoF3

Raman spectra of antiferromagnetic thallium cobaltous fluoride have been obtained with 4579A argon ion laser excitation at temperatures from 4°K to T_N = 94 ± 2°K. The features observed consist of six Co²⁺ excitons ranging in energy from 325 to 1070 cm^-1, at two-magnon peak with low-temperature energy of 315 cm^-1, and a one-magnon feature whose 4°K energy is 37 cm^-1. The energy and linewidth of the one-magnon scattering has been measured from 4°K to about 0.8 T_N; it is found that the magnon becomes critically damped at about 0.8 T_N, in good agreement with our previous observations on RbCoF₃. The Co²⁺ excitons observed at 325, 380, 410, 730 (weak), 960, and 1070 cm^-1 agree in energy quite well with the KCoF₃ levels calculated by Buyers, Holden et al. as 340, 400, 467, 767, 967 and 1050 cm^-1.