Local canted spin behaviour in Co1:4 x Znx Ge0:4 Fe1:2 O4

spinels: A macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic study

 M V SUBBARAO , S M YUSUF , R G KULKARNI and L MADHAV RAO

Department of Physics, Saurashtra University, Rajkot 360 005, India
Condensed Matter Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085,India
Inter University Consortium for DAE Facilities, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400 085, India

MS received 9 October 1998; revised 2 March 1999

Abstract:

DC magnetization, neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction (with both polar-ized and unpolarized neutrons) measurements have been reported for the Co_{1 : 4_ x} Zn_x Ge_{0. 4}Fe_{1 . 2}O₄ spinels with x = 0:5 , 0.6 and 0.7. Neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction measurements confirm the presence of a long range ferrimagnetic ordering of the local canted spins in these ferrite samples. The observed features of low field magnetization have been explained under the framework of thermally activated domain wall movement of ferrimagnetic arrangement of local canted spins. An important role of magnetic anisotropy (due to the presence of Co ²⁺ions) in establishing the magnetic ordering and domain kinetics in these ferrites has been observed.

Keywords. Ferrites; local canted spins; magnetic anisotropy; domain wall pinning.

PACS Nos 75.25.+z; 75.30.Gw; 75.60.-d

 

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