Spin structure and magnetic phase transitions in TbBaCo2O5.5

TL;DR

This study investigates the complex spin ordering and magnetic phase transitions in TbBaCo2O5.5 using neutron diffraction, revealing multiple structural and magnetic phases with specific wave vectors and spin arrangements.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the spin structures and phase transitions in TbBaCo2O5.5, including the determination of irreducible representations and the role of oxygen ordering.

Findings

Multiple magnetic phases with distinct wave vectors identified.

Spins are aligned along the x axis in all phases.

Spontaneous ferrimagnetic moment observed at 260 K.

Abstract

Spin ordering in TbBaCo2O5.5 and its temperature transformation is studied. Polymorphism due to the oxygen ordering with the average content close to 5.5 is investigated. One of ceramic samples (I), in addition to the main phase ap x 2ap x 2ap, Pmmm, (Z=2), contained about 25% of the phase ap x ap x 2ap, Pmmm, (Z=1), with statistical distribution of oxygen over the apical sites, where ap is parameter of perovskite cell. The other sample (II) contained only a main phase with well defined octahedral and pyramidal sublattices. Treatment of neutron diffraction patterns of the sample I itself gives a sophisticated spin structure. Knowing the structure of sample II, one can chose only proper magnetic lines, which give exactly the same results as for sample II. Above the Neel temperature TN ~ 290K, there is a structural transition to the phase 2ap x 2ap x 2ap, Pmma. At TN, the spins order with the wave vector k19 = 0 (Phase 1). At T1 ~ 255K, a magnetic transition takes place to the phase 2 with k22 = b3/2. At T2 ~ 170K, the crystal structure changes to 2ap x 2ap x 4ap, Pcca (Z=4). The wave vector of the spin structure becomes again k19 = 0 (Phase 3). The basis functions of irreducible representations of the group Gk have been found. Using results of this analysis, the magnetic structure in all phases is determined. The spins are always parallel to the x axis, and the difference is in the values and mutual orientation of the moments in the ordered non-equivalent pyramidal or octahedral positions. Spontaneous moment at T = 260 K is due to ferrimagnetic ordering of the moments in pyramidal sites. (Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya canting is forbidden by symmetry.) The moment values together with the ligand displacements are used to analyze the picture of spin-state/orbital ordering in each phase.