Magnetic phase transitions in the 1D ising antiferromagnet CsCoCl3

We report on Raman scattering from the magnons in CsCoCl₃ with particular emphasis on two magnetic phase transitions occurring at T_N = 20.82 K and at 8 K. The T → 0 magnon spectrum is fitted by a $\text{S =}\text{1}\text{2}$ anisotropic Heisenberg model. With a simple cluster model we can explain the temperature behaviour of the magnon frequencies and intensities. The physics of the 8 K phase transition is also discussed.     

Localized magnon gap modes in the 2-d Ising antiferromagnets K2CoF4 and Rb2CoF4

The defect (Mn²⁺,Ni²⁺,Fe²⁺) induced magnon gap modes in the layered antiferromagnets K₂CoF₄ and Rb₂CoF₄ were investigated with the methods of FIR absorption-and IR emission spectroscopy. The anisotropic exchange-parameters describing the strongly localized Mn²⁺ spin excitations far below the host lattice magnon band and the Ni²⁺ excitations in the vacinity of this band are presented. In the diluted system K₂Co_1-cMn_cF₄ localized Mn²⁺ cluster modes up to about C≈0.1 were observed. The excitation energy of these modes can only be explained by assuming an anisotropic Mn²⁺-Mn²⁺ exchange which is in contrast to the pure isomorphous system K₂MnF₄. In the spin mismatch system K₂CoF₄: Fe the magnetic moments of the isolated Fe²⁺ impurities are pulled from the plane perpendicular to the c-axis and aligned parallel to the easy axis of the magnetic crystal.     

Low temperature thermoelectric power of LaB6, PrB6 and NdB6

We have measured the thermoelectric power of LaB₆, PrB₆ and NdB₆ in the temperature range 2–20K. PrB₆ and NdB₆ order antiferromagnetically at T_N = 6.99K and 7.74K respectively, whereas LaB₆ is non-magnetic. The thermoelectric power data have a negative maximum near 5.5K in all three hexaborides. This negative peak is thought to be mainly due to phonon drag in LaB₆. In PrB₆ and NdB₆ there is an additional contribution due to magnon drag. It is expected that the high temperature thermoelectric power is mainly due to an electron diffusion term and a contribution due to spin disorder scattering. The thermoelectric power and the resistivity have been compared in the vicinity of T_N. A qualitative similarity in the temperature derivatives of these two quantities has been found for PrB₆ and NdB₆ near T_N.     

Field dependence of uniform magnon energies in lamellar CoCl2 and CoBr2 by AFMR experiments

AFMR experiments in the frequency range 77<v<600 GHz and in the magnetic field range 0<H<75 kG on antiferromagnetic CoCl₂ and CoBr₂ single crystals at 4.2 K are reported. The waves propagate along the c axis of the crystals and the steady magnetic field is in the plane of the layers, which is also the easy plane of the spins.The influence of a rotation of the field in the easy magnetization plane is investigated, showing the existence of antiferromagnetic domains.The results of the field dependence of uniform magnon energies are reported in detail for the two compounds CoCl₂ and CoBr₂. In CoBr₂, the two magnon modes at zero field are non degenerate, their frequencies are v₁(0) = 60 GHzandv₂(0) = 675 GHz, and the field required for saturation is H_s⊥ = 74.2 kG.     

Low temperature resistivity minimum and its correlation with magnetoresistance in La0.67Ba0.33MnO3 nanomanganites

A systematic investigation of structural, magnetic and electrical properties of nanocrystalline La_0.67Ba_0.33MnO₃ materials, prepared by citrate gel method has been undertaken. The temperature-dependant low-temperature resistivity in ferromagnetic metallic (∼50 K) phase shows upturn behavior and is suppressed with applied magnetic field. The experimental data (<75 K) can be best fitted in the frame work of Kondo-like spin-dependant scattering, electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions. It has been found that upturn behavior may be attributed to weak spin disorder scattering including both spin polarization and grain boundary tunneling effects, which are the characteristic features of extrinsic magnetoresistance behavior, generally found in nanocrystalline manganites. The variation of electrical resistivity with temperature in the high temperature ferromagnetic metallic part of electrical resistivity (75K<T<T_P) has been fitted with grain/domain boundary, electron-electron and magnon scattering mechanisms, while the insulating region (T>T_P) of resistivity data has been explained based on adiabatic small polaron hopping mechanism.     

Magnetoresistance of the compound CeRu2Ge2

In this work we present a magnetoresistance study on the CeRu₂Ge₂ compound. We analyze the ρ(T) curves for several applied magnetic fields using the electron–magnon scattering model for a ferromagnetic spin arrangement. From this analysis, the field dependence of the energy gap of the magnon spectrum is obtained. The magnetoresistance ρ(H) at various temperatures arises from a normal metal contribution with an additional scattering mechanism due to electron–magnon interaction.     

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation of protons in low-dimensional Ising-like system: [(CH3)3NH]CoCl3 · 2H2O

The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation times of protons in a low-dimensional Ising-like system [(CH₃)₃NH]CoCl₃ · 2H₂O were measured from 1.2 to 4.2 K in zero field and in an external magnetic field applied along the spin easy-axis. The calculation for the two-magnon Raman process was carried out with respect to a ferromagnetic layer of the bc-plane. By taking the gap energy to be 14.0 K, the best fit of the theoretical curves with the data was obtained from 1.2 K to about 2.0 K. The experimental results at high temperatures deviate seriously from the prediction of this process, which is discussed in terms of a tentative model for the nuclear relaxation process associated with magnon bound states.     

Thermal conductivity of La0.67(CaxSr1−x)0.33MnO3 (x=0, 0.5, 1) and La0.6Y0.07Ca0.33MnO3 pellets between 10 and 300 K

Thermal conductivity (λ) of nanocrystalline La_0.67(Ca_xSr_1−x)_0.33MnO₃ (x=0, 0.5, 1) and La_0.6Y_0.07Ca_0.33MnO₃ pellets prepared by a novel ‘pyrophoric’ method have been studied between the temperature range 10 and 300 K. Our data show that the magnitude of thermal conductivity is strongly influenced by the ion substitutions at La-site. The analysis of the thermal conductivity data indicates that the thermal transport is governed largely by phonons scattering in these systems and the electronic contribution is as small as 0.2-1% of total thermal conductivity (λ_total). At low temperatures (<90 K) 2D like lattice defects contribute to the phonon scattering dominantly and its strength increases with increasing Sr content and also with partial substitution of La by Y. Depending upon the composition of the samples, the magnon thermal conductivity contributes 2-15% of λ_total close to T_C. In the paramagnetic regime the unusual increase in λ_total keeps signature of large dynamic lattice distortion.     

Magnetic phase transitions in Fe1−xCoxCl2: A computer simulation

The equation of motion method has been used to calculate the $\text{q}\text{= 0}$ magnon in Fe_1?xCo_xCl₂. For a certain range of concentrations, a response at negative frequency is found, which implies that there is a new magnetic phase intermediate between FeCl₂ and CoCl₂ in this composition region. The boundaries of this phase are in good agreement with the available experimental data.     

Light scattering from two-magnon modes in K2NiF4

Measurements of Raman scattering from two magnon excitations in the two dimensional antiferromagnet K₂NiF₄ are extended to 275°K. The zeroth frequency moment of the magnon signal has a temperature dependence essentially the same as that found in the three dimensional antiferromagnet, NiF₂. No indications of critical behavior are apparent in the first frequency moment for K₂NiF₄ in contrast to the case of three dimensional antiferromagnets.     

Magnon dispersion in TbAl2

Slow neutron inelastic scattering has been used to determine the magnon dispersion relation in TbAl₂ at 4.6 K. Energies of magnons in symmetry points are in meV: Γ 1.7±0.1 and 6.0±0.1, X5.1±0.2 (degenerate); L3.0±0.1 and 7.4±0.1 for the acoustic and optical modes respectively. An analysis of the experimental curves in terms of interatomic exchange parameters shows long range order and oscillations in real space.     

Magnetic Excitations in the antiferromagnet CoCl2

Magnetic neutron inelastic scattering has been used to investigate the non degenerate spim waves propagating in the [00.1] direction in CoCl₂. The neutron results are explicable in terms of a model containing isotropic exchange as proposed by Lines [12, 13] with the addition of a small “in plane” anisotropy. At zero wave vector the anisotropy produces an energy gap in the lower magnon branch which is observed by AFMR to be 70 GHz. Since the maximum spin wave frequency at the zone centre and boundary is 0.56 THz and 0.42 THz respectively the calculations were made within the ground doublet of the ⁴T_1g term. The derived exchange parameters are consistent with those obtained from susceptibility and light scattering. Finally there was no direct evidence to suggest the presence of a strong magnon-phonon hybridization in the [00.1] direction of CoCl₂.     

Magnon modes and impurity spin resonance in FeBr2 doped with 1% Mn2+

We report results of far infrared magneto-absorption experiments in FeBr₂ doped with 1% MnBr₂. Using radiations from several carcinotrons covering the frequency range 77–600 GHz, we observe both the spectra corresponding to the localized Mn²⁺ impurity modes and the uniform magnon modes of the host crystal. The excitation energy gap of the A.F. magnons at zero field is E_o = 500 ± 2 GHz.     

Spin waves in an Invar alloy (Fe0.65Ni0.35)

The spin wave dispersion relation in an Invar alloy Fe_0.65Ni_0.35 has been measured at 4.2 K in the [111] direction by neutron inelastic scattering.Well defined magnon groups have been observed up to an energy transfer of about 80 meV. The spin wave dispersion is well described by ?ω=Dq²(1?βq²) with $\text{D=143}\text{meV}\text{A}\text{?}$ and $\text{β=0.12}\text{A}\text{?}{}^2$. The value of D is in accord with the value extrapolated from other neutron scattering results at higher contents of Ni and disagrees with spin wave resonance results.No trace of γ-iron type antiferromagnetic order could be detected at 4.2 K in this alloy by elastic neutron scattering measurements.     

Possible anisotropy gap in La1.35Sr1.65Mn2O7 and La1.5Sr0.5NiO4 detected through specific heat and magnetization measurements

Magnetization and specific heat measurements, as a function of temperature, were performed on single crystals of La_1.35Sr_1.65Mn₂O₇ and La_1.5Sr_0.5NiO₄, under different applied magnetic fields (H). The specific heat in La_1.35Sr_1.65Mn₂O₇ was decreased for H=9 T parallel to the crystal c axis, compared with H=0, possibly due to a suppression of spin-wave excitations (magnons) in that ferromagnetic bilayer structure. On the other hand, the applied magnetic field had no effect in the specific heat of the antiferromagnetic La_1.5Sr_0.5NiO₄. For H=9 T and below the temperature of 4 K the specific heat data, for each crystal, was well fitted by an exponential decay law. This allowed the calculation of energy gaps around 1 meV for both compounds, in close agreement with Δ=2μ_BH for an expected energy gap in the magnon spectrum. Detailed magnetization measurements showed monotonic variations below 4 K and a steep increase close to 2 K. Both magnetization and specific heat measurements suggest the existence of an anisotropy gap in the energy spectrum of La_1.35Sr_1.65Mn₂O₇ and La_1.5Sr_0.5NiO₄.     

Magnetic circular dichroism and Faraday rotation of YCrO3 in the R-lines region

The rich structure in magnetooptical spectra of ⁴A₂ → ²E transition in YCrO₃ was observed at liquid helium temperature. The magnetooptical lines are correlated with adsorption structure and attributed to magnon and phonon-assisted exciton transitions.     

Magnetic and electrical behavior of La1−xAxMnO3 (A=Li, Na, K and Rb) manganites

With a view to understand the magnetic and electrical behavior of monovalent substituted lanthanum manganites, a series of materials were prepared by sol-gel route by sintering at 1200 °C. The X-ray diffraction data were analyzed using Rietveld refinement technique and it has been found that all the samples were found to crystallize into rhombohedral structure with R3¯c space group. The values of ferro to paramagnetic (T_C) and metal-insulator transition (T_P) temperatures were obtained using ac susceptibility and electrical resistivity data, respectively. It has been found that sodium-, potassium- and rubidium-doped samples exhibit two peaks in the electrical resistivity vs. temperature plots. The observed behavior has been explained on the basis of oxygen deficiency present in the samples. The electrical resistivity data were analyzed using various theoretical models and it has been concluded that the electrical resistivity data in the low-temperature regime (T<T_P) can be explained using the equation ρ_(T)=ρ₀+ρ₂T²+ρ_4.5T^4.5, signifying the importance of the grain/domain boundary, electron-electron and two magnon scattering processes. On the other hand, the high-temperature resisitivity data (T>T_P) were explained using variable range and small polaron hopping mechanisms.     

One-magnon light scattering and spin-reorientation transition in epitaxial BiFeO3 thin films

Raman scattering from one-magnon excitation has been observed for the first time in epitaxial BiFeO₃ thin films grown on (1 1 1) SrTiO₃ substrates. The intensities and the frequency of the magnon mode at 18.9 cm⁻¹ (M₁) showed a discrepancy at the characteristic temperatures of ∼140 and 200 K and the magnon mode at 27.9 cm⁻¹ (M₂) disappeared at ∼200 K suggesting spin-reorientation (SR) transition in the epitaxial BFO film. The dc susceptibility measurement showed a large discrepancy near these two temperatures evidently elucidating the spin-reorientation transition mechanism. The partial spectral weight of the magnon modes is believed to be transferred to the lowest phonon mode appearing at 72.8 cm⁻¹ and higher magnon mode M₂ disappearing near 200 K reveal magnon-phonon coupling near to SR transition.     

Two magnon light scattering in K2MnF4

The light scattering spectra of the two dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet K₂MnF₄ are reported. At low temperatures a two magnon band is observed and four bands due to phonons as well.     

First order phonon and magnon Raman scattering in KCoF3

At T=2°K, a magnon and a phonon Raman line is observed respectively at 38.5 and 56.7 cm^?1. The last one arises from an acoustic phonon at R point in the paramagnetic Brillouin zone, coupled to the magnon in the magnetically ordered phase.