First-order transition in the itinerant ferromagnet CoS1.9_{1.9}Se0.1_{0.1}

Undoped CoS$_2$ is an isotropic itinerant ferromagnet with a continuous or nearly continuous phase transition at $T_{\rm C} = 122$ K. In the doped CoS$_{1.9}$Se$_{0.1}$ system, the Curie temperature is lowered to $T_{\rm C} = 90$ K, and the transition becomes clearly first order in nature. In particular we find a discontinuous evolution of the spin dynamics as well as strong time relaxation in the ferromagnetic Bragg intensity and small angle neutron scattering in vicinity of the ferromagnetic transition. In the ordered state the long-wavelength spin excitations were found to be conventional ferromagnetic spin-waves with negligible spin-wave gap ($< 0.04$ meV), indicating that this system is also an excellent isotropic (soft) ferromagnet. In a wide temperature range up to $0.9T_{\rm C}$, the spin-wave stiffness $D(T)$ follows the prediction of the two-magnon interaction theory, $D(T) = D(0)(1 - AT^{5/2})$, with $D(0) = 131.7 \pm 2.8$ meV-\AA$^{2}$. The stiffness, however, does not collapse as $T \to T_{\rm C}$ from below. Instead a quasielastic central peak abruptly develops in the excitation spectrum, quite similar to results found in the colossal magnetoresistance oxides such as (La-Ca)MnO$_3$.Comment: 8pages, 8figure

Spin-Coupled Local Distortions in Multiferroic Hexagonal HoMnO3

Local structural measurements have been performed on hexagonal HoMnO3 in order to ascertain the specific changes in bond distances which accompany magnetic ordering transitions. The transition from paramagnetic to the antiferromagetic (noncollinear) phase near ~70 K is dominated by changes in the a-b plane Mn-Mn bond distances. The spin rotation transition near ~40 K involves both Mn-Mn and nearest neighbor Ho-Mn interactions while the low temperature transition below 10 K involves all interactions, Mn-Mn, Ho-Mn (nearest and next nearest) and Ho-Ho correlations. These changes in bond distances reveal strong spin-lattice coupling. The similarity in magnitude of the change in J(Mn-Mn) and J(Ho-Mn) enhances the system frustration. The structural changes are interpreted in terms of a model of competing spin order and local structural distortions. Density functional calculations are used to estimate the energies associated with ionic displacements. The calculations also reveal asymmetric polarization of the charge density of Ho, O3 and O4 sites along the z-axis in the ferroelectric phase. This polarization facilitates coupling between Ho atoms on neighboring planes normal to the z-axis.Comment: 8 figure

Spin-lattice order in frustrated ZnCr2O4

Using synchrotron X-rays and neutron diffraction we disentangle spin-lattice order in highly frustrated ZnCr$_2$O$_4$ where magnetic chromium ions occupy the vertices of regular tetrahedra. Upon cooling below 12.5 K the quandary of anti-aligning spins surrounding the triangular faces of tetrahedra is resolved by establishing weak interactions on each triangle through an intricate lattice distortion. The resulting spin order is however, not simply a N\'{e}el state on strong bonds. A complex co-planar spin structure indicates that antisymmetric and/or further neighbor exchange interactions also play a role as ZnCr$_2$O$_4$ resolves conflicting magnetic interactions

Spin freezing and dynamics in Ca_{3}Co_{2-x}Mn_{x}O_{6} (x ~ 0.95) investigated with implanted muons: disorder in the anisotropic next-nearest neighbor Ising model

We present a muon-spin relaxation investigation of the Ising chain magnet Ca_{3}Co_{2-x}Mn_{x}O_{6} (x~0.95). We find dynamic spin fluctuations persisting down to the lowest measured temperature of 1.6 K. The previously observed transition at around T ~18 K is interpreted as a subtle change in dynamics for a minority of the spins coupling to the muon that we interpret as spins locking into clusters. The dynamics of this fraction of spins freeze below a temperature T_{SF}~8 K, while a majority of spins continue to fluctuate. An explanation of the low temperature behavior is suggested in terms of the predictions of the anisotropic next-nearest-neighbor Ising model.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Evidences of a consolute critical point in the Phase Separation regime of La(5/8-y)Pr(y)Ca(3/8)MnO(3) (y = 0.4) single crystals

We report on DC and pulsed electric field sensitivity of the resistance of mixed valent Mn oxide based La(5/8-y)Pr(y)Ca(3/8)MnO(3) (y = 0.4) single crystals as a function of temperature. The low temperature regime of the resistivity is highly current and voltage dependent. An irreversible transition from high (HR) to a low resistivity (LR) is obtained upon the increase of the electric field up to a temperature dependent critical value (V_c). The current-voltage characteristics in the LR regime as well as the lack of a variation in the magnetization response when V_c is reached indicate the formation of a non-single connected filamentary conducting path. The temperature dependence of V_c indicates the existence of a consolute point where the conducting and insulating phases produce a critical behavior as a consequence of their separation.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, corresponding author: C. Acha ([email protected]

A Comparison of the High-Frequency Magnetic Fluctuations in Insulating and Superconducting La2-xSrxCuO4

Inelastic neutron scattering performed at a spallation source is used to make absolute measurements of the dynamic susceptibility of insulating La2CuO4 and superconducting La2-xSrxCuO4 over the energy range 15<EN<350 meV. The effect of Sr doping on the magnetic excitations is to cause a large broadening in wavevector and a substantial change in the spectrum of the local spin fluctuations. Comparison of the two compositions reveals a new energy scale of 22 meV in La1.86Sr0.14CuO4.Comment: RevTex, 7 Pages, 4 postscript figure