Magnetic Structures in CrTe—CrSb Solid Solutions

Abstract

Neutron diffraction studies have been made of solid solutions of ferromagnetic CrTe and antiferromagnetic CrSb which crystallize in the hexagonal NiAs structure. Similarities are found with the isostructural system MnSb-CrSb, in which good agreement is obtained with de Gennes predictions for the effects of double exchange on an antiferromagnetic system. The most striking feature is the formation of a canted spin structure with cosine of the cant angle varying as a linear function of composition. The variation of angles and transition points when analyzed in terms of double exchange theory gives about the same value of b/|J| S2 in the two systems. At very high CrTe contents, a different type of canted spin structure occurs. The possibility of deviations from the ideal structure as can occur in CrTe is examined. A least-squares structure analysis was made which indicated the absence of distortions in most of the solid solutions.