Magnetization Process of Atacamite: A Case of Weakly Coupled S=1 /2 Sawtooth Chains

L. Heinze, H. O. Jeschke, I. I. Mazin, A. Metavitsiadis, M. Reehuis, R. Feyerherm, J. U. Hoffmann, M. Bartkowiak, O. Prokhnenko, A. U.B. Wolter, X. Ding, V. S. Zapf, C. Corvalán Moya, F. Weickert, M. Jaime, K. C. Rule, D. Menzel, R. Valentí, W. Brenig, S. Süllow

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23 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the mineral atacamite Cu2Cl(OH)3. Density-functional theory yields a Hamiltonian describing anisotropic sawtooth chains with weak 3D connections. Experimentally, we fully characterize the antiferromagnetically ordered state. Magnetic order shows a complex evolution with the magnetic field, while, starting at 31.5 T, we observe a plateaulike magnetization at about Msat/2. Based on complementary theoretical approaches, we show that the latter is unrelated to the known magnetization plateau of a sawtooth chain. Instead, we provide evidence that the magnetization process in atacamite is a field-driven canting of a 3D network of weakly coupled sawtooth chains that form giant moments.

Original languageEnglish
Article number207201
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume126
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - May 18 2021

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