Magnetic phase diagram in three-dimensional triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Sr3_3CoTa2_2O9_9 with small easy-axis anisotropy

We report the results of low-temperature magnetization and specific heat measurements of Sr$_3$CoTa$_2$O$_9$ powder, in which Co$^{2+}$ ions with effective spin-1/2 form a uniform triangular lattice in the $ab$ plane. It was found that Sr$_3$CoTa$_2$O$_9$ undergoes successive antiferromagnetic transitions at $T_{\rm N1}\,{=}\,0.97~{\rm K}$ and $T_{\rm N2}\,{=}\,0.79~{\rm K}$ at zero magnetic field. As the magnetic field increases, both $T_{\rm N1}$ and $T_{\rm N2}$ decrease monotonically. The obtained magnetic field vs temperature phase diagram together with a sharp magnetization anomaly at a saturation field of ${\mu_0}H_{\rm s}\,{=}\,2.3~{\rm T}$ indicates that Sr$_3$CoTa$_2$O$_9$ is described as a spin-1/2 three-dimensional triangular-lattice antiferromagnet with a weak easy-axis anisotropy. We discuss the characteristics of the magnetic phase diagram, which approximates the phase diagram for the magnetic field perpendicular to the $c$ axis.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.