Magnetic properties of the Nd0.95Dy0.05Fe3(BO3)4 ferroborate with small substitution in the rare-earth element subsystem

The magnetic properties of a substituted Nd_0.95Dy_0.05Fe₃(BO₃)₄ ferroborate single crystal with competing Nd-Fe and Dy-Fe exchange interactions are studied experimentally and theoretically. A spontaneous spin-reorientation transition is detected near T = 4.3 K, and anomalies are observed in the low-temperature magnetization curves along trigonal axis c and in basal plane ab. The measured properties and the detected effects are interpreted in terms of a general theoretical approach, which is based on the molecular field approximation and crystal field calculations for a rare-earth ion. The experimental temperature dependences of the initial magnetic susceptibility in the range 2–300 K, the anomalies in the magnetization curves for B ‖ c and B ⊥ c in fields up to 1.5 T, and the field and temperature dependences of magnetization in fields up to 9 T are described. The effect of small substitution in the rare-earth subsystem on the magnetic properties is analyzed. The crystal field parameters and the parameters of the R-Fe and Fe-Fe exchange interactions are determined from the experimental data.     

Magnetic properties of DyFe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The magnetic properties of an easy-axis trigonal DyFe₃(BO₃)₄ antiferromagnetic crystal have been theoretically studied. On this basis, recent experimental data [1] on the field and temperature dependences of magnetization and the temperature dependence of the initial magnetic susceptibility for three crystallographic directions in this antiferromagnet have been interpreted. The characteristics of the trigonal crystal field for the rare earth ion and the parameters of the Fe-Fe and Fe-Dy exchange interactions are determined. Limitations imposed by features of the magnetic characteristics (anisotropic magnetization in the three crystallographic directions, Schottky-type anomalies in the magnetic susceptibility, etc.) on the possible splitting of the ground-state multiplet in the crystal field and the splitting of the lowest doublet due to the f-d interaction for Dy³⁺ ions are established.     

Magnetic and Magnetodielectric Properties of Ho<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Nd<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The magnetic and magnetodielectric properties of Ho_0.5Nd_0.5Fe₃(BO₃)₄ ferroborate with the competing Ho–Fe and Nd–Fe exchange couplings have been experimentally and theoretically investigated. Step anomalies in the magnetization curves at the spin-reorientation transition induced by the magnetic field B ║ c have been found. The spontaneous spin-reorientation transition temperature T_SR ≈ 8 K has been refined. The measured magnetic properties and observed features are interpreted using a single theoretical approach based on the molecular field approximation and calculations within the crystal field model of the rare-earth ion. Interpretation of the experimental data includes determination of the crystal field parameters for Ho³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions in Ho_0.5Nd_0.5Fe₃(BO₃)₄ and parameters of the Ho–Fe and Nd–Fe exchange couplings.     

Magnetic and thermal properties of single-crystal NdFe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The neodymium ferroborate NdFe₃(BO₃)₄ undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition at T _N = 30 K, which manifests itself as a λ-type anomaly in the temperature dependence of the specific heat C and as inflection points in the temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility χ measured at various directions of an applied magnetic field with respect to the crystallographic axes of the sample. Magnetic ordering occurs only in the subsystem of Fe³⁺ ions, whereas the subsystem of Nd³⁺ ions remains polarized by the magnetic field of the iron subsystem. A change in the population of the levels of the ground Kramers doublet of neodymium ions manifests itself as Schottky-type anomalies in the C(T) and χ(T) dependences at low temperatures. At low temperatures, the magnetic properties of single-crystal NdFe₃(BO₃)₄ are substantially anisotropic, which is determined by the anisotropic contribution of the rare-earth subsystem to the magnetization. The experimental data obtained are used to propose a model for the magnetic structure of NdFe₃(BO₃)₄.     

Crossover effects in scheelite DyLiF4

The Zeeman effect, magnetization, and differential susceptibility of a DyLiF₄ crystal in a pulsed magnetic field are studied experimentally and theoretically. It is found that Dy³⁺ ion levels in DyLiF₄ approach each other and a crossover occurs in a magnetic field H ‖ [001], which leads to a smearing of peaks in the differential magnetic susceptibility dM/dH and to inflection points in the magnetization curves M(H) at low temperatures. It is demonstrated that magnetic anomalies that accompany the crossover in DyLiF₄ in a field H ‖[001] are sensitive to the electronic structure of the Dy³⁺ ion. Therefore, these anomalies can be used to refine the crystal-field parameters. The effects of variations in the crystal field and temperature and of a deviation of the direction of the magnetic field from the symmetry axis on the magnitude and character of the magnetic anomalies associated with the crossover are investigated. The crystal field and crossover effects in the scheelite structure are compared with those in the zircon structure.     

The Nd–Mn exchange interaction,low temperature specific heat and magnetism of Nd2/3Ca1/3MnO3

The low temperature specific heat and magnetic characteristics of Nd_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃ perovskite are studied in a wide range of magnetic fields (up to 9 T). Temperature dependent specific heat data show a broadened Schottky-like anomaly below 20 K caused by splitting of the Nd³⁺ ions ground-state doublet in the effective molecular field H_ex, determined by exchange interaction between Nd and Mn spin systems supplemented by an applied external magnetic field. Existence of the splitting at zero magnetic field and expressed field dependence is the evidence of a strong exchange coupling between Nd and Mn magnetic subsystems. The Nd-ions magnetic ordering leads to an additional contribution to the magnetic moment of the system below 30 K, producing anomalies of the magnetic loss and field-cooled and zero-field-cooled magnetizations. The observed broadened Schottky-like anomalies are fitted for each applied magnetic field by the sum of three Schottky functions. Applied magnetic field extends the anomaly region and shifts it to higher temperatures. Splitting of the higher crystal field Kramers doublets gives an additional contribution to the heat capacity in magnetic fields. The ground state doublet g-factors g_|| and g_⊥ were estimated to be 3.4 and 2.2, respectively, and H_ex was estimated to be 9 T. The Nd³⁺ ions magnetic moment estimated from the magnetization data agrees with the value obtained from the specific heat data.     

Magnetic phase transitions in Nd1 ? xDyxFe3(BO3)4 ferroborates

The magnetic properties of ferroborate single crystals with substituted compositions Nd_{1 − x} Dy _x Fe₃(BO₃)₄ (x = 0.15, 0.25) with competing exchange Nd-Fe and Dy-Fe interactions are investigated. For each composition, we observed a spontaneous spin-reorientation transition from the easy-axis to the easy-plane state and step anomalies on the magnetization curves for the spin-flop transition induced by a magnetic field B | c. The measured parameters and effects are interpreted using a unified theoretical approach based on the molecular field approximation and on calculations performed in the crystal-field model for the rare-earth ion. The experimental temperature dependences of the initial magnetic susceptibility from T = 2 K to T = 300 K, anomalies on the magnetization curves for B | c in fields up to 1.8 T, and their evolution with temperature, as well as temperature and field dependences of magnetization in fields up to 9 T are described. In the interpretation of experimental data, the crystal-field parameters in trigonal symmetry for the rare-earth subsystem are determined, as well as the parameters of Nd-Fe and Dy-Fe exchange interactions.     

High field susceptibility of Zn1−xCuxCr2Se4

We present the results concerning field dependences of magnetization for Zn_1-xCu_xCr₂Se₄ mixed spinels studied at low temperatures with the use of both high magnetic stationary fields up to 14 T and high pulsed fields up to 25 T. From the isotherms of static magnetization we have obtained the incremental high field susceptibility and from pulsed measurents the differential one. The temperature and concentration (x) dependences of the calculated high field susceptibility χ_hf are interpreted based on the magnetic properties of the spinels under study presented in refs. [4–7]. The greatest changes of χ_hf were observed in the intermediate concentration range exhibiting a conical spin structure, in which the appearance of the double-exchange interaction between Cr³⁺ and Cr⁴⁺ ions plays a main role. It drives the transition from a noncollinear magnetic structure to a ferromagnetic one with increasing copper concentration.     

Features of the magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of HoAl3(BO3)4

The main features of the magnetic and record magnetoelectric properties of a HoAl₃(BO₃)₄ aluminoborate single crystal have been studied experimentally and theoretically. It has been found that the electric polarization that was previously detected in HoAl₃(BO₃)₄ and is record for multiferroics is significantly larger, ΔP _ba (B _a ) ≈ ?5240 μC/m², with an increase in the magnetic field to 9 T at T = 5 K. The measured magnetic properties and revealed features have been interpreted within a united theoretical approach based on the molecular field approximation and on calculations in the crystal field model for a rare-earth ion. The experimental temperature (from 3 to 300 K) and field (up to 9 T) dependences of the magnetization have been described. The parameters of the crystal field of trigonal symmetry for a Ho³⁺ ion in HoAl₃(BO₃)₄ have been determined from the interpretation of the experimental data.     

Specific features of magnetic and transport properties of La1−x Mn1+x O3 manganites

The magnetic and transport properties of La_1?x Mn_1+x O₃ manganites with excess manganese are studied. It is shown that magnetic and charge ordering heavily depends on the superstoichiometric manganese content, magnetic field, and pressure. The magnetoresistive effect (MRE) is enhanced as the manganese concentration increases. In addition to the paramagnet-ferromagnet transition, the temperature dependences of the magnetization exhibit anomalies at low temperatures in samples with x=0.1–0.4. The magnetization decreases at T<45 K in fields H<0.2 kOe and increases as H changes from 0.2 to 10 kOe. An analysis shows that the features observed at low temperatures are most probably related to the transition from the ferromagnetic state to the canted spin structure in clusters of mixed-valence manganese ions. The temperature dependences of the magnetization and resistivity remain unchanged as the pressure increases. It is demonstrated that the Curie and metal-dielectric transition temperatures shift to higher values as the manganese concentration increases under pressure. The temperature of the MRE peak increases under pressure, while the MRE decreases.     

Rescaling of 2D ESEEM Data as a Tool for Inverse Problem Solving

A rescaling procedure is proposed for electron spin echo envelope modulation spectra observed at several electron paramagnetic resonance transitions. Analytical expressions describing the relations between the rescaled frequencies and hyperfine and quadrupole parameters of the remote nucleus are obtained. The dependences of the rescaled data on the external magnetic field and spin projections of the ion nucleus and the remote nuclei are used to derive the parameters of the nuclear state in the crystals Y₂SiO₅ and YVO₄ doped by ion Nd³⁺.     

Magnetostriction of Hexagonal HoMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and YMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Single Crystals

We report on the magnetostriction of hexagonal HoMnO₃ and YMnO₃ single crystals in a wide range of applied magnetic fields (up to H = 14 T) at all possible combinations of the mutual orientations of magnetic field H and magnetostriction ΔL/L. The measured ΔL/L(H, T) data agree well with the magnetic phase diagram of the HoMnO₃ single crystal reported previously by other authors. It is shown that the nonmonotonic behavior of magnetostriction of the HoMnO₃ crystal is caused by the Ho³⁺ ion; the magnetic moment of the Mn³⁺ ion parallel to the hexagonal crystal axis. The anomalies established from the magnetostriction measurements of HoMnO₃ are consistent with the phase diagram of these compounds. For the isostructural YMnO₃ single crystal with a nonmagnetic rare-earth ion, the ΔL/L(H, T) dependences are described well by a conventional quadratic law in a wide temperature range (4–100 K). In addition, the magnetostriction effect is qualitatively estimated with regard to the effect of the crystal electric field on the holmium ion.     

The possibility of the “giant” isotope effect for ultrasound absorption in crystals

The Zeeman effect, magnetization M(H), and differential magnetic susceptibility dM/dH of ErVO₄ crystals in a pulsed magnetic field have been experimentally and theoretically studied. In magnetic fields H ∥ [001] and H ∥ [100], the energy levels of Er³⁺ ions exhibit mutual approach and crossing (the crossover effect), which results in the peaks in dM/dH and the jumps in M(H) curves at low temperatures. The anomalies in the magnetic properties related to the crossover in ErVO₄ for H ∥ [001] are highly sensitive to the electronic structure of Er³⁺ ion, which allows this effect to be used for refining the crystal field parameters. The influence of the temperature, field misorientation from the symmetry axis, parameters of pair interactions, and other factors on the magnitude and character of magnetic anomalies in ErVO₄ crystals is considered.     

Possible observation of the coexistence of superconductivity and long-range magnetic order in NdRh4B4

The ternary rare earth compound NdRh₄B₄ has been studied by means of critical field, low temperature heat capacity, and static magnetic susceptibility measurements. Features in the upper critical field and heat capacity data at 1.31 K and 0.89 K suggest the occurrence of long-range magnetic order in the superconducting state. The temperature dependence of the static magnetic susceptibility follows a Curie-Weiss law with an effective magnetic moment μ_eff = 3.58 ± 0.05 μ_B and a Curie-Weiss temperature θ_p = ?6.2 ± 1.0 K between 20 K and room temperature. However,, magnetization vs. applied magnetic field isotherms suggest the development of a ferromagnetic component in the Nd³⁺ magnetization at low temperatures.     

Low-temperature magnetic behavior of the rare-earth cobaltites GdCoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and SmCoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The temperature and magnetic field dependences of the static magnetization of the polycrystalline rare-earth cobaltites GdCoO₃ and SmCoO₃ have been measured. It is shown that, below room temperature, the magnetization of both compounds derives primarily from the rare-earth ion paramagnetism. The GdCoO₃ and SmCoO₃ compounds have been found to differ substantially in magnetic behavior, which can be traced to differences in their electronic shell structures. The magnetic behavior of GdCoO₃ is close to that of an array of free Gd³⁺ ions, whereas in SmCoO₃ the deviation from the free-ion properties is very large because of the Sm³⁺ ground state being crystal-field split. Van Vleck magnetic susceptibility measurements of SmCoO₃ suggest that the splitting is ～10 K.     

Anomalies in the magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of Nd<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ca<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystals in strong magnetic fields

Measurements of the magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of Nd_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃, Nd_0.55Ca_0.45MnO₃, and Nd_0.6Ca_0.4MnO₃ single crystals have revealed correlations between the observed anomalies in magnetization and magnetostriction associated with suppression of the antiferromagnetic phase and charge ordering by a strong magnetic field followed by transition to the ferromagnetic state. H-T phase diagrams are constructed.     

Effect of Ca doping on the magnetic properties of Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 studied by electron spin resonance

The magnetic properties of Ca-doped Nd_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ have been studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) and dc magnetization measurements. The antiferromagnetic order and charge order are found to occur separately at T_N=200 K and T_co=150 K, respectively. Compared to the undoped Nd_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃, the ferromagnetic correlations are suppressed by doping of the small Ca²⁺ ion. In addition, the antiferromagnetic transition temperature is enhanced to 200 K, which can be explained by an increase of superexchange interaction between Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions as their distance decreases.     

Magnetic properties of an easy-plane trigonal NdFe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> antiferromagnet

The field and temperature dependences of magnetization and the temperature dependences of the initial magnetic susceptibility have been theoretically studied for three crystallographic directions in a trigonal NdFe₃(BO₃)₄ antiferromagnetic crystal. The calculations were performed using a molecular field approximation and a crystal field model for the rare-earth subsystem. The obtained theoretical expressions are applied to the interpretation of recent experimental data [1–4] on the magnetic properties of NdFe₃(BO₃)₄. The results of calculations show a good agreement with experiment. The proposed theory adequately describes (i) anomalies of the Schottky type in the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility, (ii) nonlinear curves of magnetization in the basal plane in a magnetic field up to 1 T (showing evidence of the first-order phase transitions) and their evolution with the temperature, and (iii) the field and temperature dependences of magnetization in a magnetic field up to 9 T.     

Induced quadrupole effects near a crossover in a tetragonal TbLiF4 sheelite in a strong magnetic field up to 50 T

The anomalies of magnetic properties of TbLiF₄ caused by the interaction of the energy levels of a rare-earth ion in a strong magnetic field up to 50 T directed along the [100] and [110] axes are studied experimentally and theoretically. The jumps in magnetization M(H) and the maxima of the differential magnetic susceptibility dM(H)/dH are found in critical fields H _c = 28 and 31 T, where the lower component of the excited doublet approaches the ground-state singlet of a Tb³⁺ ion. Based on the crystal-field model with known interaction parameters, we calculated the Zeeman effect and the magnetization and magnetic susceptibility curves for the TbLiF₄ crystal, which adequately describe magnetic anomalies and critical parameters of a crossover. It is shown that the jumpwise change in the α- and γ-symmetry quadrupole interactions in TbLiF₄ caused by changes in the corresponding quadrupole moments during the crossing of energy levels leads, in accordance with experiments, to a decrease in the critical field H _c by approximately 4 T and an increase in the maximum of the differential susceptibility dM(H)/dH near the crossover more than twofold. This behavior can be considered as an analog of the induced quadrupole transition caused by a change of the ground state of the rare-earth ion during crossover.     

EPR of Er3+, Nd3+, and Ce3+ ions in YAlO3 single crystals

EPR spectra of the Er³⁺, Nd³⁺, and Ce³⁺ ions substituting for the Y³⁺ ion in the YAlO₃ yttrium orthoaluminate lattice are studied. The EPR spectra of these rare-earth ions are described by a spin Hamiltonian of rhombic symmetry with an effective spin S=1/2. The principal values of the g tensors were determined from an analysis of the angular dependences of the EPR spectra. The orientation of the local magnetic axes of paramagnetic centers relative to the YAlO₃ crystallographic directions are shown to depend on the actual rare-earth species. The EPR spectra exhibit a hyperfine structure due to the ¹⁶⁷Er, ¹⁴³Nd, and ¹⁴⁵Nd odd isotopes, which permitted unambiguous identification of these spectra. The hyperfine coupling constants for the odd erbium and neodymium isotopes are determined.