Structural correlation with the Griffiths phase in disordered magnetic systems

Abstract

In this work we report detailed experimental results and band structure calculations to establish a subtle link between the crystal structure and Griffiths phase (GP) behavior for the geometrically frustrated intermetallic $\mathrm{Gd}{\mathit{M}}_{x}{\mathrm{Sn}}_{2\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ (M = Co, Ni, Cu; $0l\mathit{x}l1,0\ensuremath{\le}\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\le}0.22$) compounds. The crystal structure analysis through powder x-ray diffraction patterns reveals that the atomic positions of the M atoms in the GP analogs are slightly displaced in comparison to those of non-GP members of this series. Further, the band structure calculation shows that this slightly differing atomic position of M atoms results in narrowing in M d bands and the ferromagnetic clusters centered on the T atoms are responsible for GP behavior. This effect is insignificant in non-GP members.