Lattice distortion accompanied by magnetization reversal in A-type antiferromagnetic manganites

Abstract

Magnetostriction was investigated for layered A-type antiferromagnetic SmMnO${}_{3}$ showing large magnetocapacitive effects around a temperature (${T}_{\mathit{TP}}$) where ferrimagnetically coupled Mn 3$d$ and Sm 4$f$ moments were reversed simultaneously. Upon sweeping temperature or a magnetic field, a significant lattice distortion was observed at ${T}_{\mathit{TP}}$ or the coercive field, respectively. This indicates that the lattice is strongly coupled with the magnetic configuration. We discuss the lattice distortion accompanied by the magnetization reversal in terms of a partial change in the orbital state of Mn ${e}_{g}$ electrons.