Single-crystal growth and magnetic properties of the metallic molybdate pyrochlore Sm_2Mo_2O_7

摘要

We have successfully grown cm~3-size single crystals of the metallic-ferromagnet Sm_2Mo_2O_7 by the floating-zone method using an infrared image furnace. The growth difficulties and the remedies found using a 2-mirror image furnace are discussed. Magnetization studies along the three crystalline axes of the compound are presented and discussed based on our recent proposal of an ordered spin-ice ground state for this compound.