Spin, orbital ordering and magnetic dynamics of LaVO3: magnetization, heat capacity and neutron scattering studies

摘要

We report the results of magnetization, heat capacity and neutron scatteringstudies of LaVO3 single crystals. From the neutron diffraction studies, it wasfound that the compound is magnetically ordered with a C-type antiferromagneticspin structure at about 136 K. In the vicinity of the ordering temperature, wealso observed hysteresis in the neutron diffraction data measured on coolingand heating which indicates the first order nature of the phase transition. Inthe antiferromagnetically ordered phase, the inelastic neutron scatteringstudies reveal the presence of a temperature independent c axis spin-wave gapof about 6 meV which is similar to that previously reported for the sistercompound YVO3.