Possible Magnetic Chirality in Optically Chiral Magnet [Cr(CN)$_6$][Mn($S$)-pnH(H$_2$O)](H$_2$O) Probed by Muon Spin Rotation and Relaxation

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic properties of an optically chiral magnet and its enantiomer using muon spin rotation, revealing their magnetic structures and discussing potential magnetic chirality.

Contribution

The paper provides the first detailed muSR analysis of an optically chiral magnet and its enantiomer, highlighting their magnetic structure similarities and exploring magnetic chirality possibilities.

Findings

Muon precession signals support the magnetic structure suggested by neutron diffraction.

GN-S and GN-R are confirmed as optical isomers with identical crystallographic and magnetic structures.

Discussion of magnetic chirality in optically chiral magnet pairs.

Abstract

Local magnetic fields in a molecule-based optically chiral magnet [Cr(CN)$_6$][Mn($S$)-pnH(H$_2$O)](H$_2$O) (GN-S) and its enantiomer (GN-R) are studied by means of muon spin rotation and relaxation (muSR). Detailed analysis of muon precession signals under zero field observed below T_c supports the average magnetic structure suggested by neutron powder diffraction. Moreover, comparison of muSR spectra between GN-S and GN-R suggests that they are a pair of complete optical isomers in terms of both crystallographic and magnetic structure. Possibility of magnetic chirality in such a pair is discussed.