Phase gap in pseudoternary R1-yRy Mn2X 2-xXx compounds

Authors

Jianli Wang, University of WollongongFollow
S J. Kennedy, ANSTO
S J. Campbell, University Of New South WalesFollow
M Hofmann, Technical University Of Munich
S X. Dou, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

76451

Publication Details

Wang, J. L., Kennedy, S. J., Campbell, S. J., Hofmann, M. ; Dou, S. X. (2013). Phase gap in pseudoternary R1-yRy Mn2X 2-xXx compounds. Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, 87 (10), 104401-1-104401-5.

Abstract

Our neutron diffraction investigation of PrMn₂Ge_2−xSi_x reveals a clear separation into two magnetic phases, canted ferromagnetic (Fmc) and antiferromagnetic (AFmc), between x = 1.0 and 1.2 and a commensurate phase gap in the lattice, due to magnetostrictive distortion. This remarkable magnetoelastic phenomenon is driven by a nonuniform atomic distribution on the X site which in turn produces subtle variations in the local lattice and abrupt changes in the Mn-Mn magnetic exchange interaction. Our results show that coexistence of Fmc and AFmc phases depends on lattice parameter, chemical pressure from the rare-earth and metalloid sites, and local lattice strain distributions. We demonstrate that these magnetostructural correlations act across the entire family of R_1−yR_y^′Mn₂X_2−xX_x^′ compounds.

Grant Number

ARC/DP0879070, ARC/DP110102386, ARC/LE0775559

Additional Grant Number

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/DP0879070

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/DP110102386

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/LE0775559