Abstract
AbstractMagnetic and structural phase transitions of normal‐type spinel ZnCr2Se4 have been studied as functions of applied magnetic field and temperature by means of neutron diffraction. It is found that the spiral spin order of Cr3+ ions is largely affected by the magnetic field, and the satellite‐like magnetic reflections are largely decreased in the magnetic field of 0.6 T < H < 1.2 T and disappear at H ≥ 1.2 T, when the magnetic field was applied vertically to an orthorhombic axis [001]. This means that the spiral configuration of the ferromagnetic CrSe4 chains is perfectly disordered around two‐fold screw axes in an orthorhombic symmetry phase (Fddd structure) by the magnetic field H ≥ 1.2 T, though the structural phase transition (TC) between cubic and orthorhombic symmetry phases simultaneously occurs at the antiferromagnetic phase transition temperature (TN ≈︂ 21 K) in no magnetic field. It is also found that the main reflections show a magnetic field dependence similar to that of the magnetic reflections. Pseudo‐tetragonal displacements of Se ions below TN are modulated by the applied magnetic field. The 3 T magnetic field induces a metastable structural transition at about 15 K, after initially cooling down to about 2 K in no applied magnetic field. The transition is related to the modulation from pseudo‐tetragonal to pseudo‐cubic displacements of Se ions.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call