Universal magnetic structure of the half-magnetization phase in Cr-based spinels

Abstract

Using an elastic neutron scattering technique under a pulsed magnetic field up to 30 T, we determined the magnetic structure in the half-magnetization plateau phase in the spinel CdCr${}_2$O${}_4$. The magnetic structure has a cubic $P{4}_3$32 symmetry, which is the same as that observed in HgCr${}_2$O${}_4$. This suggests that there is a universal field induced spin-lattice coupling mechanism at work in the Cr-based spinels.

4 pages, 4 figures