Spin dynamics and exchange interaction in orthoferrite TbFeO$_3$ with non-Kramers rare-earth ion

TL;DR

This study investigates the spin dynamics and exchange interactions in orthoferrite TbFeO$_3$, revealing complex magnetic excitations, anisotropic exchange, and crystal electric field levels, advancing understanding of rare-earth orthoferrites.

Contribution

The paper provides a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of spin dynamics in TbFeO$_3$, including neutron scattering data and modeling of the rare-earth ion subsystem, which was not previously characterized in this detail.

Findings

Identification of two magnon modes in the INS spectrum.

Observation of three non-dispersive crystal electric field levels for Tb$^{3+}$.

Satisfactory agreement between experimental data and point charge model simulations.

Abstract

The low-temperature spin dynamics of the orthorhombic TbFeO$_3$ perovskite has been studied. It has been found that the inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectrum contains two modes corresponding to different sublattices in the compound. The iron subsystem orders antiferromagnetically at T$_N$ = 632 K and exhibits the high-energy magnon dispersion. Magnetic dynamics of this subsystem has been described using the linear spin wave theory and our solution yields sizable anisotropy between in-plane and out-of-plane exchange interactions. This approach was previously used to describe the magnon dispersion in the TmFeO$_3$ compound. Three non-dispersive crystal electric field levels corresponding to Tb$^{3+}$ ions have been established in the region below 40 meV at about 17, 26, and 35 meV. Study of diffuse scattering at different temperatures has elucidated the behavior of the magnetic correlation length. The behavior of the Tb$^{3+}$ ion subsystem has been numerically described in the framework of the point charge model. The numerical data agree satisfactorily with the experiment and with the general concept of the single-ion approximation applied to the rare-earth subsystem of orthorhombic perovskites.