Antiferromagnetic domains and the spin-flop transition of MnF2

G.P. Felcher; R. Kleb

doi:doi:10.1209/epl/i1996-00251-7

Antiferromagnetic domains and the spin-flop transition of MnF2 DOI: 10.1209/epl/i1996-00251-7

Europhys. Lett, 36 (6), pp. 455-460 (1996)

Antiferromagnetic domains and the spin-flop transition of

G. P. Felcher and R. Kleb

Argonne National Laboratory - Argonne, IL 60439, USA

(received 29 August 1996; accepted 4 October 1996)

PACS. 75.25 - Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials (including neutron and spin-polarized electron studies, synchrotron-source X-ray scattering, etc.).
PACS. 75.30Kz - Magnetic phase boundaries (including magnetic transitions, metamagnetism, etc.).
PACS. 75.60 - Domain effects, magnetization curves, and hysteresis.

Abstract:

In antiferromagnetic

the magnetic moments of manganese are aligned along the tetragonal axis of the rutile structure. In a magnetic field

along that axis (9.27 T at 4.2 K) the antiferromagnetic moments flop in the basal plane. Polarized neutron diffraction measurements showed that at about

the entire crystal becomes aligned in a single antiferromagnetic domain, which persists even after the field is suppressed. The effect is due to a minute misalignment (a fraction of degree) of the applied field with the tetragonal axis of the crystal. The ensuing breakdown of symmetry at the spin-flop transition provides a way to control domains in this type of antiferromagnet.