Magnetism and the phase diagram of MnSb$_2$O$_6$

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic properties and phase transitions of MnSb₂O₆ using various techniques, revealing antiferromagnetic order at 8K, a spin-flop transition, and persistent local magnetic fields up to 100K.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of MnSb₂O₆'s magnetic phases, including the identification of a narrow local field distribution and magnetic anisotropy, using multiple experimental methods.

Findings

Antiferromagnetic order at 8K

Spin-flop transition around 0.7-1T

Persistent local magnetic fields up to 100K

Abstract

Static and dynamic magnetic properties of P\={3}1$m$-phase MnSb$_2$O$_6$ have been studied by means of muon spin relaxation ($\mu$SR), high-frequency electron spin resonance (HF-ESR), specific heat, and magnetisation studies in magnetic fields up to 25\,T. The data imply onset of long-range antiferromagnetic order at $T_N$ =~8~K and a spin-flop-like transition at $B_{SF}\approx 0.7 - 1$~T. Below $T_N$, muon asymmetry exhibits well-defined oscillations indicating a narrow distribution of the local fields. A competing antiferromagnetic phase appearing below $T_2$ =~5.3~K is evidenced by a step in the magnetisation and a slight kink of the relaxation rate. Above $T_N$ , both $\mu$SR and HF-ESR data suggest short-range spin order. HF-ESR data show that local magnetic fields persist up to at least $12\cdot T_{\rm N}\approx 100$\,K. Analysis of the antiferromagnetic resonance modes and the thermodynamic spin-flop field suggest zero-field splitting of $\Delta \approx 18$\,GHz which implies small but finite magnetic anisotropy.