Magnetic, thermal, and optical properties of single-crystalline CoTa2O6 and FeTa2O6 and their anisotropic magnetocaloric effect
- Christian, Aaron B. [ Montana State University: Physics ]
- Schye, A. T. [ Montana State University: Physics ]
- White, K. O. [ Montana State University: Physics ]
- Neumeier, John J. [ Montana State University: Physics ]
The magnetic, thermal, and optical properties of single-crystalline CoTa2O6 and FeTa2O6 are reported. Optical dichroism was observed in CoTa2O6. Magnetic susceptibility χ(T) measurements reveal long-range antiferromagnetic order with Néel temperatures [Formula: see text] K and 8.11(5) K, respectively, and anisotropy in χ. The thermal expansion coefficients exhibit significant anisotropy and the influence of the magnetic ions and long-range order. A structural phase transition to orthorhombic occurs below T N for FeTa2O6. Magnetic field H lowers T N with its affect largest when H is directed along either [1 1 0] or [1 [Formula: see text] 0], and smallest when directed along [0 0 1]. This leads to an anisotropic magnetocaloric effect that is investigated through measurements of the specific heat and magnetization in applied magnetic field.