A study of magnetic interactions in M2EuRuO6 (M = Ca,Sr, Ba) by 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy

The series of compounds M₂EuRuO₆ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) has been studied by ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy. X-Ray data show them to be structurally derived from the ABO₃ perovskite lattice, but only the Ba compound gives positive evidence to suggest ordering of the $\text{Eu}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{Ru}{}^{\mathrm{5+}}$ cations. The ¹⁵¹Eu resonance shows magnetic hyperfine splitting at 4.2 K. The Ru⁵⁺OEu³⁺ORu⁵⁺ exchange takes place by admixture of low-lying excited states into the diamagnetic J = 0 ground-state of the Eu³⁺. The Curie temperatures are approximately 18, 31, and 42 K for the Ca, Sr, and Ba compounds. Detailed analysis shows that substantial disorder of cations occurs, being quite large for Ca, <8% for Sr, and <5% for Ba. However, it appears that considerable canting of the Ru⁵⁺ spins takes place in the Ba compound immediately below the Curie temperature as a result of the disorder and low anisotropy at the Ru sites. This effect is much reduced in the more distorted Sr compound.