Magnetic properties of NdFeO3 single crystal in the spin reorientation region

Abstract

High quality NdFeO3 single crystal has been grown by the four-mirror image floating zone technique. The magnetic properties and specific heat of NdFeO3 single crystal were systematically studied in the temperature range from 2 to 300 K. A clear spin reorientation behavior is observed in a wide temperature range from 100 to 170 K, with the gradual transition of the Fe3+ magnetic moment ordering from {Gz, Mx}-type ordering at low temperatures to {Gx, Mz}-type ordering at high temperatures. In the temperature range from 170 to 300 K, the value of Mx is not equal to zero. It is assumed a single {Gx, Mz}-type ordering mixed with {Gxz, Mxz}-type orderings. During the spin orientation transition process, the hysteresis loops become narrow with very small coercivity. Based on the specific heat measurement, the Schottky anomaly at very low temperature and the thermal anomalies induced by the spin reorientation were also discussed.