Step-like magnetization in a spin-chain system: Ca3Co2O6

TL;DR

This paper investigates the step-like magnetization behavior in Ca3Co2O6, a spin-chain system, using theoretical models and simulations to explain observed magnetic plateaus and steps.

Contribution

It applies an antiferromagnetic Ising model on a triangular lattice and a single-flip technique to explain the metastable states and magnetization steps in Ca3Co2O6.

Findings

Identification of two magnetization steps and a 1/3 plateau in initial models

Four magnetization steps observed in high-order approximations

Results align with experimental magnetization measurements

Abstract

Due to a ferromagnetic in-chain coupling between Co$^{3+}$ ions at trigonal sites, chains Co$_2$O$_6$ are considered as large rigid spin moments. The antiferromagnetic Ising model on the triangular lattice is applied to describe an interchain ordering. An evolution of metastable states in a sweeping magnetic field is investigated by the single-flip technique. At the first approximation two steps in the magnetization curve and a plateau at 1/3 of the saturation magnetization are found. Four steps in magnetization are determined in high-order approximations in agreement with experimental results.