Study of (La_1-<i>x</i>Ca_<i>x</i>)MnO₃. I. Magnetic Structure of LaMnO₃

Abstract

Magnetic properties of the perovskite-type oxide LaMnO 3 were studied in detail, experimentally and theoretically. The properly stoichiometric LaMnO 3 had a weak ferromagnetic moment in addition to the antiferromagnetic character with a Néel temperature of 141°K. It was found to be a parasitic weak ferromagnet. These results can be successfully explained using a phenomenological approach or the Spin-Hamiltonian formalism. The theoretical results show that the antiferromagnetic spin axis should be along the b -axis of the orthorhombic crystal axes and the ferromagnetic moment along the c -axis. The relation between a layer-type ( A -type) antiferromagnetic superexchange interaction and the Jahn-Teller distortion of Mn 3+ ions is also discussed.