Magnetic properties of single crystal GdMn2Ge2 in high magnetic field

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 1989-04, Vol.79 (1), p.76-80
• Main Authors: Kobayashi, Hisao, Onodera, Hideya, Yamamoto, Hisao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties and materials; Physics; Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials (including neutron and spin-polarized electron studies, synchrotron-source x-ray scattering, etc.)
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-8853(89)90294-1

The magnetic properties of GdMn2Ge2 with a layer structure have been studied by measuring magnetization of the single crystal in high fields up to 150 kOe. The four magnetically ordered phases have been observed. In low magnetic fields, collinear antiferromagnetic properties are observed in the range from 96.5 to 365 K where the Mn moments couple ferromagnetically on the same Mn layer and the ferromagnetic Mn in layers couple antiferromagnetically with Mn on the next layers. The collinear ferrimagnetic structure becomes stable below 96.5 K where the magnetic moments of the Gd and Mn atoms are antiparallel to each other. As the magnetic field along the c-axis increases, the magnetic structure of the Mn sublattice changes from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic one above the critical field and then the ordering of the Gd moments is induced by the exchange field from the Mn sublattice moments. Below 96.5 K, the transition from the collinear to a canted ferrimagnet occurs in the applied magnetic field perpendicular to the c-axis. The Gd moments in this canted ferrimagnet lie in the c-plane and the Mn moments cant from the c-plane.