Abstract
We obtain the noncollinear ground states of a triangular-lattice antiferromagnet with exchange interactions up to third nearest neighbors as a function of the single-ion anisotropy D. At a critical value of D, the collinear ↑↑↓↓ phase transforms into a complex noncollinear phase with odd-order harmonics of the fundamental ordering wavevector Q. The observed elastic peaks at 2πx-Q in both Al- and Ga-doped CuFeO2 are explained by a "scalene" distortion of the triangular-lattice produced by the repulsion of neighboring oxygen atoms.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 020402 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 81 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 6 2010 |