Spin and orbital frustration in MnSc2S4 and FeSc2S4

• Published in: Physical review letters Vol. 92; no. 11; pp. 116401.1 - 116401.4
• Main Authors: FRITSCH, V, HEMBERGER, J, BÜTTGEN, N, SCHEIDT, E.-W, KRUG VON NIDDA, H.-A, LOIDL, A, TSURKAN, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ridge, NY American Physical Society 19-03-2004
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Critical-point effects, specific heats, short-range order; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetically ordered materials: other intrinsic properties; Physics; Saturation moments and magnetic susceptibilities; Static properties (order parameter, static susceptibility, heat capacities, critical exponents, etc.); Cubic lattices; Scandium sulfides; Inorganic compounds; Iron sulfides; Ternary compounds; Transition element compounds; Curie-Weiss law; Experimental study; Jahn-Teller effect; Magnetic susceptibility; Specific heat; Spin liquid; Manganese sulfides; Spinels; Frustration; Crystal structure
• ISSN: 0031-9007; 1079-7114
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.116401

Crystal structure, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat were measured in the normal cubic spinel compounds MnSc2S4 and FeSc2S4. Down to the lowest temperatures, both compounds remain cubic and reveal strong magnetic frustration. Specifically the Fe compound is characterized by a Curie-Weiss (CW) temperature ThetaCW = -45 K and does not show any indications of order down to 50 mK. In addition, the Jahn-Teller ion Fe2+ is orbitally frustrated. Hence, FeSc2S4 belongs to the rare class of spin-orbital liquids. MnSc2S4 is a spin liquid for temperatures T>TN approximately 2 K.