<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mi>Q</mml:mi></mml:math>-Switch and Polarization Domains in Antiferromagnetic Chromium Observed with Neutron-Diffraction Topography

Abstract

The $Q$-switch and polarization domain configurations in a nearly perfect Cr single crystal has been directly observed by neutron-diffraction topography in the A${\mathrm{F}}_{1}$ and A${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ phases. The size of the domains proves to be as large as ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ to ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ in either phase. As far as the present observation is concerned, each domain in the A${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ phase splits into domains in the A${\mathrm{F}}_{1}$ phase, with two possible polarizations of the transverse spin-density wave.