Field-driven magnetisation steps in Ca3Co2O6: A single-crystal neutron-diffraction study

• Published in: Europhysics letters Vol. 90; no. 6; p. 67006
• Main Authors: Fleck, C. L, Lees, M. R, Agrestini, S, McIntyre, G. J, Petrenko, O. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01.06.2010; EDP Sciences
• Subjects: 75.25.-j; 75.50.Ee; 75.60.Ej
• ISSN: 0295-5075; 1286-4854
• DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/90/67006

The behaviour of the spin chain compound Ca3Co2O6 in an applied magnetic field has been the subject of a detailed single-crystal neutron diffraction study. The low-temperature magnetisation process is shown to be accompanied by clearly visible steps in the intensity of the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic Bragg peaks. The field and temperature dependence of the long-range and the short-range components of magnetic order in Ca3Co2O6 have been studied. Detailed measurements have shown that the presence of the short-range correlations cannot account for the reduction in intensity of the antiferromagnetic peaks at low temperatures.