Magnetic diffuse scattering of the $S$ = 5/2 fcc antiferromagnets Ba$_2$MnTeO$_6$ and Ba$_2$MnWO$_6$

TL;DR

This study investigates magnetic diffuse scattering in two isostructural $S$=5/2 fcc antiferromagnets, revealing short-range correlations and evaluating magnetic interactions using polarized neutrons and theoretical modeling.

Contribution

It provides new insights into short-range magnetic correlations and quantifies exchange interactions in Ba$_2$MnTeO$_6$ and Ba$_2$MnWO$_6$ using diffuse scattering analysis.

Findings

Short-range spin correlations persist well above $T_N$.

Antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic correlations are identified.

Exchange constants $J_1$ and $J_2$ are quantified and consistent with previous experiments.

Abstract

We have investigated the magnetic diffuse scattering of isostructural $S$ = 5/2 fcc antiferromagnets Ba$_2$MnTeO$_6$ and Ba$_2$MnWO$_6$ using polarized neutrons. Both materials display short-range correlated magnetism above their respective magnetic ordering temperatures of 20 K and 8 K. The spin correlations were analysed using a Reverse Monte Carlo approach. For Ba$_2$MnTeO$_6$, we find antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor correlations along with ferromagnetic next-nearest neighbor correlations directly linked to the Type I order below $T_N$. For Ba$_2$MnWO$_6$, both the nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor spin correlations are antiferromagnetic in the paramagnetic state. The short-range spin correlations persist up to $T$ = 7$T_N$. The magnetic diffuse scattering was also fitted using Onsager reaction-field theory allowing us to evaluate the magnetic interactions in these materials. We obtained $J_1$ = -3.25(3) K and $J_2$ = 0.41(2) K for Ba$_2$MnTeO$_6$ and $J_1$ = -1.08(1) K and $J_2$ = -0.88(1) K for Ba$_2$MnWO$_6$. These interactions are comparable to previous results from inelastic neutron scattering experiments below $T_N$, which highlights the potential of the Onsager approach for the analysis of magnetic interactions.