Spin orbital reorientation transitions induced by magnetic field

TL;DR

This paper reports a newly identified spin orbital reorientation transition (SORT) in Mn$^{3+}$ clusters within GaN, caused by the interplay of crystal field effects and spin-orbit coupling, affecting magnetic anisotropy at specific magnetic fields.

Contribution

The study introduces the concept of spin orbital reorientation transition (SORT) and explains its origin through crystal field and spin-orbit interactions in magnetic clusters.

Findings

Magnetic anisotropy reverses sign at specific magnetic fields.

SORT depends on crystal field parameters and spin-orbit coupling.

The effect is likely present in other materials with unquenched orbital momentum.

Abstract

Here we report on a new effect similar to the spin reorientation transition (SRT) that takes place at two magnetic fields of $B_{SORT1}$ and $B_{SORT2}$. The effect is observed in the magnetization curves of small Mn$^{3+}$ magnetic clusters in the wurtzite GaN (being in a paramagnetic state) calculated using crystal field model approach. The obtained results suggest that the computed magnetic anisotropy (MA) reverses its sign on increasing $B$ across $B_{SORT}$. Detailed analysis show however that MA is unchanged for high magnetic fields. We show that the observed effect arises from the interplay of the crystalline environment and the spin-orbit coupling $\lambda \hat{\textbf{S}} \hat{\textbf{L}}$, therefore we name it spin orbital reorientation transition (SORT). The value of $B_{SORT1}$ depends on the crystal field model parameters and the number of ions $N$ in a given cluster, whereas $B_{SORT2}$ is controlled mostly by the magnitude of the spin-orbit coupling $\lambda$. The explanation of SORT is given in terms of the spin $M_S$ and orbital momentum $M_L$ contributions to the total magnetization $M = M_S + M_L$. The similar effect should also be present in other materials with not completely quenched (non zero) orbital angular momentum $L$, a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and the positive value of $\lambda$.