Abstract
We analyzed the single-crystal neutron scattering data on a frustrated spinel ZnFe 2 O 4 , which is governed by dominant antiferromagnetic third-neighbor exchange interactions J 3 and additional ferromagnetic J 1 [K. Kamazawa et al. : Phys. Rev. B 68 (2003) 024412]. A spin dodecamer model that is formed on the kagome plane is proposed. It is notable that, although J 3 bonds consist of two types of exchange paths Fe–O–Fe–O–Fe and Fe–O–Zn–O–Fe, only the spatial spin correlations corresponding to the former paths are antiferromagnetic while those of all the latter paths are ferromagnetic in the dodecamer. This fact suggests that the frustration is relieved by utilizing the difference of exchange paths even in the same-distant interactions, that is to say, that only specific orbital mixing is selectively enhanced as an origin of the spin molecule.
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