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Title: Magnetic, thermal, and electronic-transport properties of EuMg2Bi2 single crystals

Abstract

The trigonal compound EuMg 2 Bi 2 has recently been discussed in terms of its topological band properties. These are intertwined with its magnetic properties. In this paper detailed studies of the magnetic, thermal, and electronic-transport properties of EuMg 2 Bi 2 single crystals are presented. The Eu + 2 spins 7/2 in EuMg 2 Bi 2 exhibit an antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at a temperature T N = 6.7 K, as previously reported. By analyzing the anisotropic magnetic susceptibility χ data below T N in terms of molecular-field theory (MFT), the AFM structure is inferred to be a c -axis helix, where the ordered moments in the hexagonal a b -plane layers are aligned ferromagnetically in the a b plane with a turn angle between the moments in adjacent moment planes along the c axis of 120° . An alternate but less likely magnetic structure is a planar structure with nearest-neighbor Eu spins aligned at 120° with respect to each other, where these ordered-moment layers are stacked along the c axis. The magnetic heat capacity exhibits a λ anomaly at T N with evidence of dynamic short-range magnetic fluctuations both above and below T N . The high- T limit of the magnetic entropy is close to the theoretical value for spins 7/2. The in-plane electrical resistivity ρ ( T ) data indicate metallic character with a mild and disorder-sensitive upturn below T min = 23 K. An anomalous rapid drop in ρ ( T ) on cooling below T N as found in zero field is replaced by a two-step decrease in magnetic fields. The ρ ( T ) measurements also reveal an additional transition below T N in applied fields of unknown origin that is not observed in the other measurements and may be associated with an incommensurate to commensurate AFM transition. The dependence of T N on the c -axis magnetic field H was derived from the field-dependent χ ( T ) , C p ( T ) , and ρ ( T ) measurements. This T N ( H ) was found to be consistent with the prediction of MFT for a c -axis helix with S = 7 / 2 and was used to generate a phase diagram in the H T plane.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
  2. Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
OSTI Identifier:
1631824
Report Number(s):
IS-J-10,230
Journal ID: ISSN 2469-9950; PRBMDO; TRN: US2201031
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-07CH11358
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Review B
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 101; Journal Issue: 21; Journal ID: ISSN 2469-9950
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY

Citation Formats

Pakhira, Santanu, Tanatar, M. A., and Johnston, D. C. Magnetic, thermal, and electronic-transport properties of EuMg2Bi2 single crystals. United States: N. p., 2020. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.101.214407.
Pakhira, Santanu, Tanatar, M. A., & Johnston, D. C. Magnetic, thermal, and electronic-transport properties of EuMg2Bi2 single crystals. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.101.214407
Pakhira, Santanu, Tanatar, M. A., and Johnston, D. C. Wed . "Magnetic, thermal, and electronic-transport properties of EuMg2Bi2 single crystals". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.101.214407. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1631824.
@article{osti_1631824,
title = {Magnetic, thermal, and electronic-transport properties of EuMg2Bi2 single crystals},
author = {Pakhira, Santanu and Tanatar, M. A. and Johnston, D. C.},
abstractNote = {The trigonal compound EuMg2Bi2 has recently been discussed in terms of its topological band properties. These are intertwined with its magnetic properties. In this paper detailed studies of the magnetic, thermal, and electronic-transport properties of EuMg2Bi2 single crystals are presented. The Eu+2 spins 7/2 in EuMg2Bi2 exhibit an antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at a temperature TN=6.7 K, as previously reported. By analyzing the anisotropic magnetic susceptibility χ data below TN in terms of molecular-field theory (MFT), the AFM structure is inferred to be a c-axis helix, where the ordered moments in the hexagonal ab-plane layers are aligned ferromagnetically in the ab plane with a turn angle between the moments in adjacent moment planes along the c axis of ≈120°. An alternate but less likely magnetic structure is a planar structure with nearest-neighbor Eu spins aligned at ≈120° with respect to each other, where these ordered-moment layers are stacked along the c axis. The magnetic heat capacity exhibits a λ anomaly at TN with evidence of dynamic short-range magnetic fluctuations both above and below TN. The high-T limit of the magnetic entropy is close to the theoretical value for spins 7/2. The in-plane electrical resistivity ρ(T) data indicate metallic character with a mild and disorder-sensitive upturn below Tmin=23 K. An anomalous rapid drop in ρ(T) on cooling below TN as found in zero field is replaced by a two-step decrease in magnetic fields. The ρ(T) measurements also reveal an additional transition below TN in applied fields of unknown origin that is not observed in the other measurements and may be associated with an incommensurate to commensurate AFM transition. The dependence of TN on the c-axis magnetic field H⊥ was derived from the field-dependent χ(T), Cp(T), and ρ(T) measurements. This TN(H⊥) was found to be consistent with the prediction of MFT for a c-axis helix with S=7/2 and was used to generate a phase diagram in the H⊥–T plane.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.101.214407},
journal = {Physical Review B},
number = 21,
volume = 101,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jun 03 00:00:00 EDT 2020},
month = {Wed Jun 03 00:00:00 EDT 2020}
}

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