Magnetic Susceptibility, Thermal Expansion and Electrical Resistivity of MnSe

Abstract

Measurements of magnetic susceptibility, thermal expansion and electrical resistivity were carried out at temperatures ranging from 77 K to room temperature on a polycrystalline sample of the antiferromagnetic compound MnSe with rock salt structure. The curves obtained show a large thermal hysteresis and a sharp transition at the Néel temperature. The change in the susceptibility at TN (197 K) as the sample is cooled is -2.2×10-5 emu/g. The value of exchange striction is estimated to be 2.0. The change in the thermal expansion at TN is -5.6×10-4. The exchange striction and the first-order transition due to it cause the anomalous magnetic, crystalline and electrical behaviors at TN in MnSe.