Bicriticality in Fe/sub x/Co/sub 1-x/Ta/sub 2/O/sub 6/

Abstract

X-ray and neutron-diffraction, dc magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and specific-heat measurements are reported for FexCo1 xTa2O6 mixed oxides. X-ray refinement indicates homogeneous samples for all the reported concentrations. The neutron-diffraction measurements reveal magnetic structures with double propagation vectors (±1/4; 1/4; 1/4) for CoTa2O6, and (1/2; 0; 1/2) and (0; 1/2; 1/2) for FeTa2O6. The latter remain unchanged in the Fe-rich samples, for 0:46 ≤x<1.00, while the Co-rich samples show propagation vectors (±1/4; 1/4; 0)for 0.09 ≤ x<0:46. The temperature vs x phase diagram exhibits a bicritical point at about T=4.9 K and x=0.46. For this concentration, and at low temperatures, the system shows coexistence of both magnetic structures. This novel bicritical behavior is interpreted as induced by competition between the different magnetic and crystallographic structures.