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We identify the phase boundary between spiral spin and ferromagnetic phases in Au2 Mn at a critical pressure of 16.4 kbar, as determined by neutron diffraction, magnetization, and magnetoresistance measurements. The temperature-dependent critical field at a given pressure is accompanied by a peak in magnetoresistance and a step in magnetization. The critical field decreases with increasing temperature and pressure. The critical pressure separating the spiral phase and ferromagnetism coincides with the disappearance of the magnetoresistance peak, where the critical field goes to zero. The notable absence of an anomalous Hall effect in the the ferromagnetic phase is attributable to the high conductivity of this material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A spin-orbital quantum liquid state is theoretically proposed in the honeycomb lattice of Ba3CuSb2O9, enabled by dynamic short-range correlations between the spin and orbital degrees of freedom. Using neutron diffraction, the local atomic structure of Ba3Cu1+xSb2-xO9 at x = 0 and 0.1 is obtained via the pair density function analysis. The results indicate that both compositions exhibit local Jahn-Teller (JT) distortions with the elongated CuO3 octahedral configuration. In Ba3Cu1.1Sb1.9O9, JT ordering of the distorted CuO3 octahedra gives rise to the orthorhombic symmetry with ferro-orbital order. On the other hand, in Ba3CuSb2O9, even though the CuO3 octahedra are JT distorted, there is no long-range ordering hence the symmetry is hexagonal. Furthermore, the local singlet excitation at 5.8 meV observed in Ba3CuSb2O9 below 50 K is absent in Ba3Cu1.1Sb1.9O9. Instead, an excitation at 2.5 meV is observed in the latter, which is likely associated with short-range spin order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birnessite compounds are stable across a wide range of compositions that produces a remarkable diversity in their physical, electrochemical, and functional properties. These are hydrated analogs of the magnetically frustrated, mixed-valent manganese oxide structures, with general formula, Nax MnO2. Here we demonstrate that the direct hydration of layered rock-salt type α-NaMn O2, with the geometrically frustrated triangular lattice topology, yields the birnessite type oxide, Na0.36Mn O2 ~0.2H2O, transforming its magnetic properties. This compound has a much-expanded interlayer spacing compared to its parent α-NaMn O2 compound. We show that while the parent α-NaMn O2 possesses a Néel temperature of 45 K as a result of broken symmetry in the Mn3+ sublattice, the hydrated derivative undergoes collective spin freezing at 29 K within the Mn3+/Mn4+ sublattice. Scaling-law analysis of the frequency dispersion of the ac susceptibility, as well as the temperature-dependent, low-field dc magnetization confirm a cooperative spin-glass state of strongly interacting spins. This is supported by complementary spectroscopic analysis [high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron miscroscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and electron energy-loss spectroscopy] as well as by a structural investigation (high-resolution TEM, x-ray, and neutron powder diffraction) that yield insights into the chemical and atomic structure modifications. We conclude that the spin-glass state in birnessite is driven by the spin frustration imposed by the underlying triangular lattice topology that is further enhanced by the in-plane bond-disorder generated by the mixed-valent character of manganese in the layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previously unreported Pb-based perovskite PbMoO3 is obtained by high-pressure and high-temperature synthesis. This material crystallizes in the Pm...m cubic structure at room temperature, making it distinct from typical Pb-based perovskite oxides with a structural distortion. PbMoO3 exhibits a metallic behavior down to 0.1 K with an unusual T-sublinear dependence of the electrical resistivity. Moreover, a large specific heat is observed at low temperatures accompanied by a peak in CP/T³ around 10 K, in marked contrast to the isostructural metallic system SrMoO3. These transport and thermal properties for PbMoO3, taking into account anomalously large Pb atomic displacements detected through diffraction experiments, are attributed to a low-energy vibrational mode, associated with incoherent off-centering of lone-pair Pb2+ cations. We discuss the unusual behavior of the electrical resistivity in terms of a polaronlike conduction, mediated by the strong coupling between conduction electrons and optical phonons of the local low-energy vibrational mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we report that CaY2Co2Ge3O12 exhibits an unusual anisotropic and chainlike antiferromagnetic arrangement of spins despite crystallizing in the highly symmetric garnet structure. Using low-temperature powder neutron diffraction and symmetry analysis, we identify a magnetic structure consisting of chainlike motifs oriented along the body diagonals of the cubic unit cell with moments pointing parallel to the chain direction due to the strong Ising character of the Co ions. Antiferromagnetic order sets in below 6 K and exhibits both temperature- and field-induced magnetic transitions at high fields. Combining the results, we present a magnetic phase diagram that suggests CaY2Co2Ge3O12 undergoes a quantum phase transition at low temperatures and moderate fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic ground state of the quasi-one-dimensional spin-1 antiferromagnetic chain is sensitive to the relative sizes of the single-ion anisotropy (D) and the intrachain (J) and interchain (J') exchange interactions. The ratios D/J and J'/J dictate the material's placement in one of three competing phases: a Haldane gapped phase, a quantum paramagnet, and an XY-ordered state, with a quantum critical point at their junction. We have identified [Ni(HF2)(pyz)2]SbF6, where pyz = pyrazine, as a rare candidate in which this behavior can be explored in detail. Combining neutron scattering (elastic and inelastic) in applied magnetic fields of up to 10 tesla and magnetization measurements in fields of up to 60 tesla with numerical modeling of experimental observables, we are able to obtain accurate values of all of the parameters of the Hamiltonian [D=13.3(1) K, J=10.4(3) K, and J'=1.4(2) K], despite the polycrystalline nature of the sample. Density-functional theory calculations result in similar couplings (J=9.2 K, J'=1.8 K) and predict that the majority of the total spin population resides on the Ni(II) ion, while the remaining spin density is delocalized over both ligand types. The general procedures outlined in this paper permit phase boundaries and quantum-critical points to be explored in anisotropic systems for which single crystals are as yet unavailable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]