Spin, orbital ordering and magnetic dynamics of LaVO3: magnetization, heat capacity and neutron scattering studies

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic, thermal, and neutron scattering properties of LaVO3 single crystals, revealing a C-type antiferromagnetic order at 136 K, a first-order phase transition, and a temperature-independent spin-wave gap.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental insights into the magnetic structure and excitations of LaVO3, highlighting similarities with YVO3 and characterizing the phase transition nature.

Findings

Magnetic ordering with C-type antiferromagnetic structure at 136 K

First-order phase transition indicated by hysteresis in neutron data

Presence of a 6 meV spin-wave gap in the ordered phase

Abstract

We report the results of magnetization, heat capacity and neutron scattering studies of LaVO3 single crystals. From the neutron diffraction studies, it was found that the compound is magnetically ordered with a C-type antiferromagnetic spin structure at about 136 K. In the vicinity of the ordering temperature, we also observed hysteresis in the neutron diffraction data measured on cooling and heating which indicates the first order nature of the phase transition. In the antiferromagnetically ordered phase, the inelastic neutron scattering studies reveal the presence of a temperature independent c axis spin-wave gap of about 6 meV which is similar to that previously reported for the sister compound YVO3.