Abstract
Neutron diffraction studies of the normal spinel HgCr 2S 4 show that the magnetic structure is a simple spiral identical with that proposed by Plumier for ZnCr 2Se 4. The propagation vector ▪ is parallel to the symmetry axis of the spiral and directed along a particular cube edge in a given domain. The moment of Cr +3 is 2·73 μ B , in agreement with the magnetization measurements, and the wavelength of the modulation is ∼42 Å. The wavelength increases with temperature, reaching a value of ∼90 Å at 30°K, and shows very little further variation up to the Néel point (∼60°K). Application of a magnetic field along a cube edge produces no magnetization in that direction, but rather a growth of domains for which ▪. This process is complete at ∼4 kOe and is followed by a rapid collapse of the spiral into the field direction which saturates at ∼10 kOe. The growth of favorably oriented domains decreases progressively as the direction of the applied field departs from the cube edge. The neutron results are discussed in relation to the magnetization measurements of Baltzer et al.
Published Version
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