Unusual behaviour of the spin-phonon coupling in the quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnet RbCoCl3

Abstract

We present an experimental and theoretical study for the lattice vibrational (phonon) modes in the quasi-one-dimensional (or chain-like) antiferromagnet RbCoCl3 at low temperatures both above and below the two different magnetic phase transitions. Clear evidence is found for the role of spin-phonon interactions in providing a temperature-dependent contribution for the frequencies of the E1g and E2g symmetry phonons that occur with frequencies comparable to those of the spin wave excitations (magnons) in this compound. The behaviour in RbCoCl3, as studied here by Raman scattering experiments, is quite different from that typically observed in rutile-structure antiferromagnets where the spin-phonon coupling has been well characterized. The theory is modified to take account of the strong Ising-like component in the spin Hamiltonian. This enables the spin-phonon coupling parameters to be deduced, with the analysis also revealing the onset of an extra frequency shift for the phonons below the transition temperature TN1 = 28 K associated with magnetic ordering along the Co chains.