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Field-induced lattice staircase in a frustrated antiferromagnet CuFeO2

N. Terada, Y. Narumi, K. Katsumata, T. Yamamoto, U. Staub, K. Kindo, M. Hagiwara, Y. Tanaka, A. Kikkawa, H. Toyokawa, T. Fukui, R. Kanmuri, T. Ishikawa, and H. Kitamura
Phys. Rev. B 74, 180404(R) – Published 20 November 2006

Abstract

The results of synchrotron x-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements on a triangular lattice antiferromagnet CuFeO2 subjected to a pulsed high magnetic field are reported. We find the lattice constant, b, contracts stepwise with increasing magnetic field in coincidence with the multistep magnetization changes. These changes in the lattice constant scale with the magnetization changes. We argue that the competition among the ferromagnetic direct and antiferromagnetic superexchange interactions is a main source for this phenomenon. With the changes of the magnetic structure under an applied magnetic field, the number of up spins increases and the lattice contracts to gain the former exchange energy.

    • Received 18 October 2006

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.74.180404

    ©2006 American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    N. Terada1, Y. Narumi2, K. Katsumata1, T. Yamamoto3, U. Staub4, K. Kindo2, M. Hagiwara3, Y. Tanaka1, A. Kikkawa1, H. Toyokawa5, T. Fukui2, R. Kanmuri3, T. Ishikawa1, and H. Kitamura1

    • 1RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Harima Institute, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan
    • 2ISSP, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
    • 3KYOKUGEN, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan
    • 4Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
    • 5SPring-8/JASRI, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan

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    Issue

    Vol. 74, Iss. 18 — 1 November 2006

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