Field-driven spin structure evolution in MnCr2S4: A high-field single-crystal neutron diffraction study

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • F. Duc - , Université Grenoble Alpes (Author)
  • N. Qureshi - , ILL - Institut Laue-Langevin (Author)
  • H. Suwa - , The University of Tokyo (Author)
  • E. Ressouche - , Université Grenoble Alpes (Author)
  • M. Songvilay - , Université Grenoble Alpes (Author)
  • O. Prokhnenko - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)
  • A. Gazizulina - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)
  • F. Bourdarot - , Université Grenoble Alpes (Author)
  • V. Tsurkan - , Augsburg University, Moldova State University (Author)
  • S. Zherlitsyn - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • L. Prodan - , Augsburg University, Moldova State University (Author)
  • A. Bertin - , Chair of Neutron Spectroscopy of Condensed Matter, University of Cologne (Author)
  • A. Schneidewind - , Jülich Research Centre (Author)
  • A. Hoser - , Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (Author)
  • M. Uhlarz - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • T. Herrmannsdörfer - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • J. Wosnitza - , Clusters of Excellence ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter, Chair of Physics of High Magnetic Fields, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Author)
  • V. Simonet - , Université Grenoble Alpes (Author)
  • S. Chattopadhyay - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy (Author)

Abstract

We present a comprehensive microscopic insight into the spin configurations within the bond-frustrated cubic spinel compound MnCr2S4 directly unveiled through extensive single-crystal neutron diffraction studies carried out in zero magnetic field and in fields up to 35 T. While our zero field results confirm the ferrimagnetic structure with an antiparallel arrangement of the magnetic Cr3+ and Mn2+ sublattices below TFiM≈65 K, as well as the presence of the exotic Yafet-Kittel phase below TYK≈5 K, our data measured in fields enable us to precisely determine the field-induced magnetic structures and their evolution across the phase transitions at μ0H1≈11T and μ0H2≈25T and beyond that towards μ0H3 (≈50T). Additionally, combining our experimental findings with mean-field-Theory calculations reveals a complex field dependence of the Mn-Mn and Mn-Cr exchange interactions across the different phases, highlighting the significant influence of spin-lattice coupling in this material.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number214416
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume110
Issue number21
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2024
Peer-reviewedYes