Abstract
We report an intriguing twofold spin reorientation transition of type for the magnetic sublattice near spin reorientation temperatures and in a rare-earth orthoferrite single crystal. Magnetic-field-induced incomplete spin-configuration transitions ( for and for ) were observed by measurement of magnetization as a function of temperature. The spin reorientation temperature of a single crystal can be controlled by changing the magnitude of the applied magnetic field. We also show that spin reorientation of the type between and can be induced by an applied magnetic field along the axis. The origin of the intriguing magnetic behavior is ascribed to the anisotropic effective field whose strength is determined by the interactions with () spins and can be modified by the external applied magnetic field. It provides deeper insight into the magnetic interaction which dominates the sophisticated magnetic phase transitions in the rare-earth orthoferrites.
- Received 9 June 2014
- Revised 18 September 2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.144415
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