The first-order phase transition between dimerized-antiferromagnetic and uniform-antiferromagnetic phases in Cu_(1-x)M_xGeO_3

TL;DR

This study investigates the phase transition in Cu(1-x)Mg(x)GeO3, revealing a first-order transition between dimerized-antiferromagnetic and uniform-antiferromagnetic phases through magnetic and x-ray measurements.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental evidence of a first-order phase transition in Cu(1-x)Mg(x)GeO3, expanding understanding of magnetic phase behavior in this class of materials.

Findings

Identification of double peaks indicating two AF transition temperatures.

Observation of a drastic change in inverse correlation length.

Disappearance of the spin-Peierls phase at the transition.

Abstract

We have performed detailed magnetic susceptibility measurements as well as synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies to determine the temperature vs concentration ($T$ - $x$) phase diagram of Cu${}_{1-x}$Mg${}_x$GeO${}_3$. We observe clear double peaks in the magnetic susceptibility implying two antiferromagnetic (AF) transition temperatures in samples with Mg concentrations in the range 0.0237 $\le x \le$ 0.0271. We also observe a drastic change in the inverse correlation length in this concentration range by x-ray diffraction. The drastic change of the AF transition temperature as well as the disappearance of the spin-Peierls (SP) phase have been clarified; these results are consistent with a first-order phase transition between dimerized AF (D-AF) and uniform AF (U-AF) phases as reported by T. Masuda {\it et al.} \lbrack Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 80}, 4566 (1998)\rbrack. The $T$ - $x$ phase diagram of Cu${}_{1-x}$Zn${}_x$GeO${}_3$ is similar to that of Cu${}_{1-x}$Mg${}_x$GeO${}_3$, which suggests that the present phase transition is universal for Cu${}_{1-x}M_{x}$GeO${}_3$.