Direct observation of noncollinear order of Co and Mn moments in multiferroic M n0.85C o0.15W O4
Abstract
Doping M n1 -xC oxW O4 with Co produces a rich magnetic phase diagram with a large number of ferroelectric phases. We present resonant x-ray magnetic scattering experiments in the known collinear AF4 phase of multiferroic M n0.85C o0.15W O4 showing that Mn and Co spins point to different directions despite they randomly occupy the same crystallographic site. The resultant noncollinear exotic spin configuration is determined by a competition of M n2 + and C o2 + magnetic anisotropies and demands a reexamination of the ferroelectric phase diagram of this model family beyond the previous average description of its magnetic orders.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- June 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.91.220403
- Bibcode:
- 2015PhRvB..91v0403H
- Keywords:
-
- 75.85.+t;
- 75.25.-j;
- 75.50.Ee;
- Antiferromagnetics