Publication Type
Journal
Journal Name
Physical Review Letters
Publication Date
Page Number
066404
Volume
100
Issue
6
Abstract
Neutron inelastic scattering and diffraction techniques have been used to study the MnV2O4 spinel system. Our measurements show the existence of two magnetic transitions to long-range ordered ferrimagnetic states; the first collinear and the second noncollinear. The lower temperature transition, characterized by development of antiferromagnetic components in the basal plane, is
accompanied by a tetragonal distortion and the appearance of a gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum. The low-temperature noncollinear magnetic structure has been definitively resolved. Taken together, the crystal and magnetic structures indicate a staggered ordering of the V d orbitals.
The anisotropy gap is a consequence of unquenched V orbital angular momentum.
