Helical magnetic structure of epitaxial films of nanolaminated Mn2GaC MAX phase

• Nanolaminated Mn2GaC epitaxial films crystallizing in the hexagonal structure belong to the family of MAX phase compounds and display complex magnetic interactions. While the critical temperature of the order-disorder transition is 507 K, at around 214 K this compound undergoes a first-order phase transition with the magnetic structure below the transition point not being fully resolved. Previous studies indicated a noncollinear spin arrangement, but a specific magnetic structure could not be defined. In this work we present the results of 69Ga, 71Ga, and 55Mn NMR experiments performed at 4.2 K in an external in-plane magnetic field up to 1 T. The in-depth analysis of the experimental results shows a helical magnetic structure consisting of the ferromagnetically coupled Mn-C-Mn slabs that are twisted across the Ga layer by 167.2 degrees with respect to the next Mn-C-Mn slab. As a result, the magnetic structure presents a spiral propagating along the out-of-plane direction (hexagonal c axis) with a pitch of around 14 lattice constants.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

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art (subject category)