Unraveling the magnetic properties and nature of exchange interactions of Mn5−x Fe x Ge3 (0.15 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) alloys

Abstract

We report the structural and magnetic properties of arc-melted Fe-doped Mn5Ge3 alloys. In this study, Mn5−x Fe x Ge3 (x = 0.15, 0.3, and 0.5) alloys were subjected to DC magnetic measurements in order to examine the nature of magnetic interaction via critical exponents study in the asymptotic critical region. The critical exponents β, γ and δ are obtained independently from different methods. For Mn4.85Fe0.15Ge3, β = 0.338, γ = 1.146 and δ = 4.39; for Mn4.7Fe0.3Ge3, β = 0.337, γ = 1.244 and δ = 4.69 and for Mn4.5Fe0.5Ge3, β = 0.328, γ = 1.195 and δ = 4.64. The values of critical exponents obtained are found to be close to the 3D Ising universality class (β = 0.325, γ = 1.241, and δ = 4.82). Analyses based on the Renormalization group theory predictions reveal that the spin interactions are short-range extended types beyond the nearest neighbors due to the presence of a different set of Mn–Mn interactions with an unequal magnitude of exchange strengths in the Mn5−x Fe x Ge3 alloys.