Anisotropic magnetic behavior of GdBa_2Cu_3O_{6+y} single crystals

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic anisotropy and phase transitions of GdBa_2Cu_3O_{6+y} single crystals, revealing anisotropic magnetic behavior and spin-flop transitions below 2.3K, with detailed phase diagrams for different field orientations.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the anisotropic magnetic properties and phase diagrams of GdBa_2Cu_3O_{6+y} single crystals, highlighting unexpected susceptibility anisotropy.

Findings

Magnetic anisotropy aligns with Gd^{3+} moments along the c-axis below T_N

Spin-flop transitions observed at H_{sf}~10kOe for H||c

Pronounced susceptibility anisotropy found above T_N

Abstract

Magnetic properties of high-quality Al-free nonsuperconducting GdBa_2Cu_3O_{6+y} single crystals grown by flux method have been studied. The magnetic anisotropy below the N\'eel temperature T_N~2.3K corresponds to the direction of Gd^{3+} magnetic moments along the tetragonal c-axis. At T < T_N clear indications of spin-flop transitions for H||c have been observed on magnetization curves at H_{sf}~10kOe. Magnetic phase diagrams have been obtained for H||c as well as for H||ab. A pronounced anisotropy in the magnetic susceptibility (unexpected for Gd-based compounds) has been found above T_N.