Local magnetism, magnetic order and spin freezing in the 'nonmetallic metal' FeCrAs

Journal article

We present the results of x-ray scattering and muon-spin relaxation ([Formula: see text]SR) measurements on the iron-pnictide compound FeCrAs. Polarized non-resonant magnetic x-ray scattering results reveal the 120° periodicity expected from the suggested three-fold symmetric, non-collinear antiferromagnetic structure. [Formula: see text]SR measurements indicate a magnetically ordered phase throughout the bulk of the material below [Formula: see text] K. There are signs of fluctuating magnetism in a narrow range of temperatures above [Formula: see text] involving low-energy excitations, while at temperatures well below [Formula: see text] behaviour characteristic of freezing of dynamics is observed, likely reflecting the effect of disorder in our polycrystalline sample. Using density functional theory we propose a distinct muon stopping site in this compound and assess the degree of distortion induced by the implanted muon.

Authors: Huddart, BM; Birch, MT; Pratt, FL; Blundell, SJ; Porter, DG

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Journal: Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 28
• Article number: 285803
• Publication date: 2019-04-26
• Acceptance date: 2019-04-01
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ab151f
• EISSN: 1361-648X
• ISSN: 0953-8984
• Pmid: 30933932
• Language: English
• Keywords: non-Fermi liquid,; muon-spin relaxation; FFR; density functional theory; magnetic x-ray scattering