Local nuclear and magnetic order in the two-dimensional spin glass, Mn$_{0.5}$Fe$_{0.5}$PS$_3$

TL;DR

This study investigates the short-range nuclear and magnetic order in the two-dimensional spin glass Mn$_{0.5}$Fe$_{0.5}$PS$_3$, revealing how ion distribution and magnetic interactions lead to a spin glass state with specific correlation behaviors.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into the local nuclear and magnetic structures of Mn$_{0.5}$Fe$_{0.5}$PS$_3$, highlighting the two-dimensional nature and the development of spin correlations near the glass transition.

Findings

Random distribution of Mn and Fe ions induces spin glass behavior.

Correlation length of 5.5 Å develops near the glass transition.

Weak interlayer correlations confirm two-dimensionality.

Abstract

We present a comprehensive study of the short-ranged nuclear and magnetic order in the two-dimensional spin glass, Mn$_{0.5}$Fe$_{0.5}$PS$_3$. Nuclear neutron scattering data reveal a random distribution of Mn$^{2+}$ and Fe$^{2+}$ ions within the honeycomb layers, which gives rise to a spin glass state through inducing competition between neighbouring exchange interactions, indicated in magnetic susceptibility data by a cusp at the glass transition, $T_g = 35$ K. Analysis of magnetic diffuse neutron scattering data collected for both single crystal and polycrystalline samples gives further insight into the origin of the spin glass phase, with spin correlations revealing a mixture of satisfied and unsatisfied correlations between magnetic moments within the honeycomb planes, which can be explained by considering the magnetic structures of the parent compounds, MnPS$_3$ and FePS$_3$. We found that, on approaching $T_g$ from above, an ensemble-averaged correlation length of $\xi = 5.5(6)$ \r{A} developed between satisfied correlations, and below $T_g$, the glassy behaviour gave rise to a distance-independent correlation between unsatisfied moments. Correlations between the planes were found to be very weak, which mirrored our observations of rod-like structures parallel to the c* axis in our single crystal diffraction measurements, confirming the two-dimensional nature of Mn$_{0.5}$Fe$_{0.5}$PS$_3$.