New insights into the multiferroic properties of Mn3TeO6

• Mn3TeO6 has a trigonal corundum related structure (space group R (3) over bar), and orders in an incommensurate antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure at T-N approximate to 24 K. A weak ferroelectric order below T* similar to 21 K has recently been reported. In order to investigate possible structural changes below T-N leading to the observed dipole order, we have performed a detailed study of the crystal and magnetic structures of Mn3TeO6 using neutron powder diffraction (NPD) in the temperature range of 5-40 K. Complementary low-temperature second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements were performed in order to confirm the reported dipole order at T*. No change in the rhombohedral symmetry associated with a possible displacive phase transition at T* was observed in the long-range structural correlations, and it appears that Mn3TeO6 keeps the same incommensurately modulated magnetic spin structure with the propagation vector k = (0; 0; 0.43) in the whole temperature range from 5 to 24 K.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

electronic materials

neutron scattering

x-ray diffraction

crystal structure

magnetic properties

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