Dimensional crossover in a layered ferromagnet detected by spin correlation driven distortions.

ABSTRACT: Magneto-elastic distortions are commonly detected across magnetic long-range ordering (LRO) transitions. In principle, they are also induced by the magnetic short-range ordering (SRO) that precedes a LRO transition, which contains information about short-range correlations and energetics that are essential for understanding how LRO is established. However these distortions are difficult to resolve because the associated atomic displacements are exceedingly small and do not break symmetry. Here we demonstrate high-multipole nonlinear optical polarimetry as a sensitive and mode selective probe of SRO induced distortions using CrSiTe₃ as a testbed. This compound is composed of weakly bonded sheets of nearly isotropic ferromagnetically interacting spins that, in the Heisenberg limit

SUBMITTER: Ron A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6458139 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature