Low temperature neutron diffraction studies on Ca₃CoMnO₆

Abstract

The magnetic structure of the quasi-1D compound Ca₃CoMnO₆ (CCMO) has been determined by carrying out Rietveld analysis of low temperature neutron diffraction (ND) patterns. The magnetic measurements on CCMO have established that the compound exhibits a long range antiferromagnetic ordering (T_N) around 15 K, and interesting magnetic properties below T_N. In order to understand the correlation of the magnetic behavior with the magnetic structure, we have recorded ND patterns at temperatures across T_N, from 2 K to 30 K and have also studied the influence of externally applied magnetic field on the magnetic ordering in CCMO. The magnetic field induces drastic changes in the pristine magnetic structure at temperatures below 15 K. We discuss here the parameters associated with magnetic structure of CCMO at low temperatures and the influence of external field on them.