Magnetic properties of chiral EuIr$_2$P$_2$

TL;DR

This paper models the magnetic and thermodynamic behavior of EuIr₂P₂ using a minimal classical model, revealing phase transitions, spin-flop phenomena, and phase diagrams consistent with experimental observations.

Contribution

It introduces a minimal model with DFT-calculated exchange parameters and anisotropy to describe EuIr₂P₂'s magnetic phases and transitions.

Findings

Two temperature-driven phase transitions identified.

External magnetic field induces a spin-flop transition.

Model results agree with experimental data on specific heat, magnetization, and susceptibility.

Abstract

We present a minimal model that provides a description of the magnetic and thermodynamic properties of \Eu. The model contains two exchange coupling parameters, which are calculated using Density Functional Theory, and a local easy axis magnetic anisotropy term. The classical ground state of the system is a generalization of the well known 120$^\circ$ structure observed in triangular antiferromagnets. Monte Carlo simulations show two phase transitions as a function of the temperature. With increasing temperature, the system transitions from the ground state into a high-entropy collinear antiferromagnet, which in turn at higher temperatures presents a second order transition to a paramagnetic state. A high enough external magnetic field parallel to the anisotropy axis produces a spin-flop transition at low temperatures. The field also reduces the temperature range of stability of the collinear antiferromagnet phase and leads to a single phase transition as a function of the temperature. The reported behavior of the specific heat, the magnetization, and the magnetic susceptibility is in agreement with the available experimental data. Finally, we present the magnetic phase diagrams for magnetic fields parallel and perpendicular to the easy axis.