On the magnetism of sigma-Fe54Cr46 alloy: AC and DC susceptibility studies

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic properties of sigma-Fe54Cr46 alloy, revealing a spin glass ground state with long-range magnetic interactions and field-dependent transition temperatures through AC and DC susceptibility measurements.

Contribution

It provides new experimental evidence of the magnetic ordering and spin glass behavior in sigma-Fe54Cr46 alloy using susceptibility techniques.

Findings

Magnetic ordering occurs at Tc=23.5 K.

Ground state is a spin glass.

Long magnetic interactions are indicated by frequency-independent AC susceptibility.

Abstract

Sigma-phase intermetallic compound of Fe54Cr46 was investigated using DC and AC magnetic susceptibility techniques. A clear-cut evidence was found that the sample orders magnetically at Tc=23.5 K and its ground magnetic state is constituted by a spin glass. The temperature at which the zero-field cooled magnetization has its maximum decreases with an external magnetic field in line with the Gabay-Toulouse prediction. The temperature at which the AC magnetic susceptibility has its maximum does not depend on frequency which, in the light of the mean-field theory, testifies to very long magnetic interactions.