Short- and long-range magnetic order in LaMnAsO

The magnetic properties of the layered oxypnictide LaMnAsO have been revisited using neutron scattering and magnetization measurements. The present measurements identify the Néel temperature TN=360(1) K. Below TN the critical exponent describing the magnetic order parameter is β=0.33-0.35, consistent with a three-dimensional Heisenberg model. Above this temperature, diffuse magnetic scattering indicative of short-range magnetic order is observed, and this scattering persists up to TSRO=650(10) K. The magnetic susceptibility shows a weak anomaly at TSRO and no anomaly at TN. Analysis of the diffuse scattering data using a reverse Monte Carlo algorithm indicates that above TN nearly two-dimensional, short-range magnetic order is present with a correlation length of 9.3(3) Å within the Mn layers at 400 K. The inelastic scattering data reveal a spin gap of 3.5 meV in the long-range ordered state, and strong, low-energy (quasielastic) magnetic excitations emerging in the short-range ordered state. Comparison with other related compounds correlates the distortion of the Mn coordination tetrahedra to the sign of the magnetic exchange along the layer-stacking direction, and suggests that short-range order above TN is a common feature in the magnetic behavior of layered Mn-based pnictides and oxypnictides.