Spin-flop quasi metamagnetic, anisotropic magnetic, and electrical transport behavior of Ho substituted kagome magnet ErMn$_6$Sn$_6$

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic and electrical properties of Ho-substituted ErMn6Sn6, revealing complex magnetic phase transitions, spin-flop behavior, and metallic conduction, highlighting potential for discovering exotic magnetic phenomena in kagome metals.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of magnetic phase behavior and spin-flop transitions in Ho-substituted ErMn6Sn6 kagome magnets, emphasizing the role of R-Mn interactions.

Findings

Identified antiferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic transitions at 350 K and 114 K.

Observed field-induced spin-flop quasi-metamagnetic transition.

Confirmed metallic behavior with Fermi liquid characteristics at low temperatures.

Abstract

We report on the magnetic and electrical properties of a (Mn$_3$Sn)$_2$ triangular network kagome structured high quality Ho substituted ErMn$_6$Sn$_6$ single-crystal sample by magneto-transport measurements. Er$_{0.5}$Ho$_{0.5}$Mn$_6$Sn$_6$ orders antiferromagnetically at N\'{e}el temperature $T_\mathrm{N} \sim$ 350 K followed by a ferrimagnetic (FiM) transition at $T_\mathrm{C} \sim$ 114 K and spin-orientation transition at $T_\mathrm{t} \sim$ 20 K. The field-manifestations of these magnetic phases in the \textit{ab}-basal plane and along the \textit{c}-axis are illustrated through temperature-field \textit{T-H} phase diagrams. In \textit{H}$\parallel$\textit{c}, narrow hysteresis between spin reorientation and field-induced FiM phases below $T_\mathrm{t}$, enhanced/strengthened FiM phase below $T_\mathrm{C}$ and stemming of FiM phase out of strongly coexisting AFM and FiM phases below $T_\mathrm{N}$ through a non-meta-magnetic transition are confirmed to arise from strong R-Mn sublattices interaction. In contrast, \textit{H}$\parallel$\textit{ab}-plane, between $T_\mathrm{N}$ and $T_\mathrm{C}$, individually contributing R-Mn sublattices with weak antiferromagnetic interactions undergo a field-induced spin-flop quasi-metamagnetic transition to FiM state. The temperature dependent electrical resistivity suggests metallic nature with Fermi liquid behavior at low temperatures. Essentially, the current study stimulates interest to investigate the magnetic and electrical properties of mixed rare-earth layered kagome magnetic metals for possible novel and exotic behavior.