Orphan spins and bound in-gap states in the $S={5\over2}$ antiferromagnet CaFe$_{2}$O$_{4}$

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic properties of CaFe$_{2}$O$_{4}$, revealing localized orphan spins at antiphase boundaries that influence magnetic order and excitations.

Contribution

It uncovers the presence of bound orphan spins at boundaries in CaFe$_{2}$O$_{4}$ and characterizes their magnetic excitations and effects on the material's magnetic structure.

Findings

Localized orphan spins exist at antiphase boundaries.

These spins have excitation energies below bulk spin-waves.

Orphan spins influence magnetic order and can be tuned by magnetic fields.

Abstract

CaFe$_{2}$O$_{4}$ is an anisotropic $S={5\over 2}$ antiferromagnet with two competing $A$ ($\uparrow \uparrow \downarrow \downarrow$) and $B$ ($\uparrow \downarrow \uparrow \downarrow$) magnetic order parameters separated by static antiphase boundaries at low temperatures. Neutron diffraction and bulk susceptibility measurements, show that the spins near these boundaries are weakly correlated and a carry an uncompensated ferromagnetic moment that can be tuned with a magnetic field. Spectroscopic measurements find these spins are bound with excitation energies less than the bulk magnetic spin-waves and resemble the spectra from isolated spin-clusters. Localized bound orphaned spins separate the two competing magnetic order parameters in CaFe$_{2}$O$_{4}$.