An inelastic neutron scattering investigation of holmium orthoferrite

G A Stewart; G N Iles; R A Mole; Z Yamani

doi:10.1088/1361-648X/ac9e83

An inelastic neutron scattering investigation of holmium orthoferrite

J Phys Condens Matter. 2022 Nov 9;51(2). doi: 10.1088/1361-648X/ac9e83.

Authors

G A Stewart¹, G N Iles^{2

3}, R A Mole², Z Yamani⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Science, The University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
² Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia.
³ School of Science, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne,VIC 3000, Australia.
⁴ Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0, Canada.

PMID: 36317304
DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/ac9e83

Abstract

The inelastic neutron scattering spectra recorded in this study and elsewhere provide a useful set of crystal-field (CF) energy levels for the groundJ= 6 term of Ho³⁺in HoFeO₃. The resolution of the low-energy, temperature-dependent pseudo-quadrupole ground state splitting and magnon peaks is consistent with the self-ordering of the Ho³⁺sublattice atT_Ho∼ 8-10 K and supports earlier electron spin resonance investigations of the Ho³⁺magnon behaviour. Systematic analysis of the grouped singlet CF levels of Ho³: HoFeO₃, in conjunction with the CF Kramers doublet levels of the neighbouring Er³⁺: ErFeO₃, has yielded possible sets of CF parameters for the two systems.

Keywords: crystal field; ferrite; holmium; magnon.