Abstract
A hexamer-type spin excitation seen in spinel chromates ACr 2O4 (A=Mg, Zn, or Cd) is the representative spin-liquid-like state caused by geometrical frustration. To clarify an origin of the state, we comparatively studied spin excitations in an isomorphic material HgCr2O4 by inelastic neutron scattering and observed a different molecular-type excitation. Numerical analyses performed using model Hamiltonians suggest that these two types of spin excitations originate from a spin-3/2 molecular singlet hidden in a magnetically ordered phase. The difference between the molecular types is explained by the difference in the kind of exchange interactions occurring in the chromates.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 035115 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 84 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 11 2011 |