Magnetoelastic coupling in the stretched diamond lattice of TbTaO$_4$

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetoelastic coupling in the stretched diamond lattice of TbTaO$_4$, revealing how magnetic field influences its magnetic order and lattice distortions, and providing a detailed phase diagram.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of magnetic and structural properties of M-TbTaO$_4$ under magnetic fields, highlighting magneto-elastic effects in a stretched diamond lattice.

Findings

Néel temperature decreases with magnetic field

Magnetic field increases lattice bond and angle distortions

Magnetic phase diagram of M-TbTaO$_4$ established

Abstract

The magnetic structure of diamond-like lattice has been studied extensively in terms of the magnetic frustration. Here we report the distortion of stretched diamond lattice of Tb$^{3+}$ (4$f^8$) in M-TbTaO$_4$ on application of a magnetic field. We have investigated the structural and magnetic properties of M phase terbium tantalate M-TbTaO$_4$ as a function of temperature and magnetic field using magnetometry and powder neutron diffraction. Sharp ${\lambda}$-shape transitions in $d(\chi T)/dT$, $dM/dH$ and specific heat data confirm the previously reported three-dimensional (3D) antiferromagnetic ordering at $T_N \approx 2.25$ K. On application of a magnetic field the N\'eel temperature is found to decrease and variable field neutron diffraction experiments below $T_N$ at 1.6 K show an increase in both the bond and angle distortion of the stretched diamond lattice with magnetic field, indicating a potential magneto-elastic coupling effect. By combining our magnetometry, heat capacity and neutron diffraction results we generate a magnetic phase diagram for M-TbTaO$_4$ as a function of temperature and field.