Anomalous Composition-Induced Crossover in the Magnetic Properties of the Itinerant-Electron Antiferromagnet Ca{1-x}Sr{x}Co{2-y}As{2}

TL;DR

This study confirms a composition-driven magnetic phase change in Ca(1-x)Sr(x)Co(2-y)As(2) and uncovers an anomalous crossover region where magnetic behaviors deviate from typical antiferromagnetic patterns.

Contribution

It reveals an anomalous magnetic crossover in Ca(1-x)Sr(x)Co(2-y)As(2) within a specific composition range, expanding understanding of magnetic phase behavior in this material.

Findings

Confirmation of composition-induced magnetic structure change

Identification of anomalous magnetic behavior in the crossover region

Observation of ferromagnetic-like behavior along the c axis

Abstract

The inference of Ying et al. [EPL 104, 67005 (2013)] of a composition-induced change from c-axis ordered-moment alignment in a collinear A-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure (AFMI) at small x to ab-plane alignment in an unknown AFM structure (AFMII) at larger x in Ca(1-x)Sr(x)Co(2-y)As(2) with the body-centered tetragonal ThCr2Si2 structure is confirmed. Our major finding is an anomalous magnetic behavior in the crossover region 0.2 < x < 0.3 between these two phases. In this region the magnetic susceptibility versus temperature chi_ab(T) measured with magnetic fields H applied in the ab plane exhibit typical AFM behaviors with cusps at the Neel temperatures of about 65 K, whereas chi_c(T) and the low-temperature isothermal magnetization M_c(H) with H aligned along the c axis exhibit extremely soft ferromagnetic-like behaviors.