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Magnetic Structure and Excitations in CeCuxAl4-x System.
Milan Klicpera1, Devashibhai T Adroja2,3, Kristina Vlášková1
1Charles University , Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Ke Karlovu 5, 12116 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
This study investigated CeCuAl3 and its solid solutions using neutron scattering, revealing complex magnetic structures and excitations dependent on copper-aluminum concentration. The findings shed light on the interplay between crystal structure and magnetic properties in these materials.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Magnetism
Background:
- CeCuAl3 crystallizes in a tetragonal BaNiSn3-type structure.
- CeCuAl3 and its solid solutions (CeCuxAl4-x) exhibit complex magnetic ordering and excitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the crystallographic and magnetic properties of CeCuAl3 and CeCuxAl4-x solid solutions.
- To understand the evolution of magnetic excitations with varying copper-aluminum concentration.
- To explore the relationship between structural parameters and magnetic behavior.
Main Methods:
- Elastic and inelastic neutron scattering techniques were employed.
- Powder neutron diffraction was used to determine crystallographic parameters and magnetic order.
- Neutron scattering spectra were analyzed to study magnetic excitations.
Main Results:
- No structural changes were observed between 1.5 K and 300 K.
- Weak magnetic peaks indicate complex magnetic structures in solid solutions (0.90 ≤ x ≤ 1.10) described by specific propagation vectors.
- The magnetic structure of CeCu0.75Al3.25 has both anti-ferromagnetic and ferromagnetic components.
- Magnetic excitation spectra varied with Cu-Al concentration, showing three peaks for CeCuAl3 and x=0.95, and two peaks for x=0.75 and x=1.10.
Conclusions:
- The magnetic properties of CeCuxAl4-x are sensitive to the copper-aluminum concentration.
- The observed magnetic excitation schemes deviate from predictions based on local symmetry, suggesting complex interactions.
- The interplay between lattice vibrations and crystal electric field excitations influences the magnetic behavior.
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