Spin-lattice coupling in a ferrimagnetic spinel: The exotic $H$-$T$ phase diagram of MnCr${}_2$S${}_4$ up to 110 T

Abstract

In antiferromagnets, the interplay of spin frustration and spin-lattice coupling has been extensively studied as the source of complex spin patterns and exotic magnetism. Here, we demonstrate that, although neglected in the past, the spin-lattice coupling is essential to ferrimagnetic spinels as well. We performed ultrahigh-field magnetization measurements up to 110 T on a Yafet-Kittel ferrimagnetic spinel, MnCr${}_2$S${}_4$, which was complemented by measurements of magnetostriction and sound velocities up to 60 T. Classical Monte Carlo calculations were performed to identify the complex high-field spin structures. Our minimal model incorporating spin-lattice coupling accounts for the experimental results and corroborates the complete phase diagram, including two new high-field phase transitions at 75 and 85 T. Magnetoelastic coupling induces striking effects: An extremely robust magnetization plateau is embedded between two unconventional spin-asymmetric phases. Ferrimagnetic spinels provide a new platform to study asymmetric and multiferroic phases stabilized by spin-lattice coupling.

9 pages, 7 figures

References in corpus (4)

• Order by disorder and spiral spin liquid in frustrated diamond lattice antiferromagnets
• High resolution magnetostriction measurements in pulsed magnetic fields using Fibre Bragg Gratings
• A study of the quantum classical crossover in the spin dynamics of the 2D S=5/2 antiferromagnet Rb2MnF4: neutron scattering, computer simulations, and analytic theories
• Multiferroic spin-superfluid and spin-supersolid phases in MnCr2S4

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