Anharmonic magnon excitations in noncollinear and charge-ordered RbFe$^{2+}$Fe$^{3+}$F$_6$

TL;DR

This study investigates anharmonic magnon excitations in the noncollinear, charge-ordered antiferromagnet RbFe$^{2+}$Fe$^{3+}$F$_6$, revealing broadened magnetic bands and enhanced multi-magnon processes due to its orthogonal spin structure.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed observation of anharmonic magnon excitations in a noncollinear, charge-ordered magnet, highlighting the role of orthogonal spin arrangements.

Findings

Observation of two distinct spin wave branches.

Detection of broadened magnetic scattering indicative of multi-magnon processes.

Enhanced anharmonic excitations linked to noncollinear spin structure.

Abstract

RbFe$^{2+}$Fe$^{3+}$F$_6$ is an example of a charge ordered antiferromagnet where iron sites, with differing valences, are structurally separated into two interpenetrating sublattices. The low temperature magnetically ordered Fe$^{2+}$ ($S$=2) and Fe$^{3+}$ ($S$=5/2) moments form a noncollinear orthogonal structure with the Fe$^{3+}$ site displaying a reduced static ordered moment. Neutron spectroscopy on single crystals finds two distinct spin wave branches with a dominant coupling along the Fe$^{3+}$ chain axis ($b$-axis). High resolution spectroscopic measurements find an intense energy and momentum broadened magnetic band of scattering bracketing a momentum-energy region where two magnon processes are kinematically allowed. These anharmonic excitations are enhanced in this non collinear magnet owing to the orthogonal spin arrangement.