Partial ferromagnetic ordering and indirect exchange interaction in spatially anisotropic kagome antiferromagnet Cs_2Cu_3CeF_{12}

TL;DR

This paper investigates the crystal structure and magnetic properties of Cs_2Cu_3CeF_{12}, revealing partial ferromagnetic ordering and indirect exchange interactions in a spatially anisotropic kagome antiferromagnet.

Contribution

It uncovers the unconventional magnetic ordering and the role of indirect interactions in a buckled kagome lattice with anisotropic exchange interactions.

Findings

Ferromagnetic ordering of dangling spins observed.

Magnetization plateau at one-third saturation.

Indirect exchange interactions mediated by chain spins.

Abstract

We report the crystal structure and unconventional magnetic ordering of Cs_2Cu_3CeF_{12}, which is composed of buckled kagome lattice of Cu^{2+} ions. The exchange network in the buckled kagome lattice is fairly anisotropic, so that the present spin system can be divided into two subsystems: alternating Heisenberg chains with strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions and dangling spins. Although the direct exchange interactions between neighboring spins were found to be all antiferromagnetic, ferromagnetic magnetic ordering of the dangling spins was observed. Magnetization exhibits a plateau at one-third of the saturation magnetization. These observations can be understood in terms of the indirect interaction between dangling spins mediated by the chain spin.