Magnetic Structure of Cr2O3

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Pratt and Bailey have recently explained the optical and anomalous magnetic properties of Cr2O3 by means of a model consisting of the basic Cr2O3 antiferromagnetic structure with moments canted away from the c axis and forming some kind of spiral. Our neutron powder‐diffraction data confirm the original Brockhouse moment configuration but indicate that the c‐axis component of the Cr moment is 8% lower than the spin‐only value. This result can be interpreted as supporting the canted model of Pratt and Bailey. A careful search has been made, using single crystals, to find evidence for an ordered or spiraling perpendicular component. Polarization studies establish that there is no magnetic contribution to the fundamental reflections other than that arising from the c‐axis components. A survey of reciprocal space revealed extra spots at forbidden positions, but these could be accounted for semiquantitatively in terms of double‐Bragg scattering. We conclude, therefore, that either the Cr moment is intrinsically lower, or, if canting exists, a perpendicular component of the magnitude required by the canted model does not exhibit long‐range order.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: