Spin structure and magnetic frustration in multiferroic RMn{sub 2}O{sub 5} (R=Tb,Ho,Dy)

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.71.214402· OSTI ID:20719033

Blake, G R ^[1]; Chapon, L C ^[1]; Radaelli, P G ^[1]; Park, S; Hur, N; Cheong, S-W ^[2]; Rodriguez-Carvajal, J ^[3]

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1. ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory-CCLRC, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX (United Kingdom)
2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854 (United States)
3. Laboratoire Leon Brillouin (CEA-CNRS), CEA/Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex (France)

We have studied the crystal and magnetic structures of the magnetoelectric materials RMn{sub 2}O{sub 5} (R=Tb,Ho,Dy) using neutron diffraction as a function of temperature. All three materials display incommensurate antiferromagnetic ordering below 40 K, becoming commensurate on further cooling. For R=Tb,Ho, a commensurate-incommensurate transition takes place at low temperatures. The commensurate magnetic structures have been solved and are discussed in terms of competing exchange interactions. The spin configuration within the ab plane is essentially the same for each system, and the radius of R determines the sign of the magnetic exchange between adjacent planes. The inherent magnetic frustration in these materials is lifted by a small lattice distortion, primarily involving shifts of the Mn{sup 3+} cations and giving rise to a canted antiferroelectric phase.

• OSTI ID: 20719033
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 71; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANTIFERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
ANTIFERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
CATIONS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
DYSPROSIUM COMPOUNDS
ELECTRONS
EXCHANGE INTERACTIONS
FERROELECTRIC MATERIALS
HOLMIUM COMPOUNDS
MANGANATES
MANGANESE IONS
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SPIN
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TERBIUM COMPOUNDS