Frustrated fcc antiferromagnetBa2YOsO6: Structural characterization, magnetic properties, and neutron scattering studies

Abstract

We report the crystal structure, magnetization, and neutron scattering measurements on the double perovskite ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{YOsO}}_{6}$. The $Fm\overline{3}m$ space group is found both at 290 K and 3.5 K with cell constants ${a}_{0}=8.3541(4)$ \AA{} and $8.3435(4)$ \AA{}, respectively. ${\mathrm{Os}}^{5+} (5{d}^{3})$ ions occupy a nondistorted, geometrically frustrated face-centered-cubic (fcc) lattice. A Curie-Weiss temperature $\ensuremath{\theta}\ensuremath{\sim}\ensuremath{-}700$ K suggests the presence of a large antiferromagnetic interaction and a high degree of magnetic frustration. A magnetic transition to long-range antiferromagnetic order, consistent with a type-I fcc state below ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}\ensuremath{\sim}69$ K, is revealed by magnetization, Fisher heat capacity, and elastic neutron scattering, with an ordered moment of 1.65(6) ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ on ${\mathrm{Os}}^{5+}$. The ordered moment is much reduced from either the expected spin-only value of $\ensuremath{\sim}3 {\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ or the value appropriate to $4{d}^{3} {\mathrm{Ru}}^{5+}$ in isostructural ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{YRuO}}_{6}$ of 2.2(1) ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$, suggesting a role for spin-orbit coupling (SOC). Triple-axis neutron scattering measurements of the order parameter suggest an additional first-order transition at $T=67.45$ K, and the existence of a second-ordered state. Time-of-flight inelastic neutron results reveal a large spin gap $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\sim}17$ meV, unexpected for an orbitally quenched, ${d}^{3}$ electronic configuration. We discuss this in the context of the $\ensuremath{\sim}5$ meV spin gap observed in the related ${\mathrm{Ru}}^{5+},\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}4{d}^{3}$ cubic double perovskite ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{YRuO}}_{6}$, and attribute the $\ensuremath{\sim}3$ times larger gap to stronger SOC present in this heavier, $5d$, osmate system.