We use neutron powder diffraction to investigate the magnetic and crystalline structure of Cr2GaN. A magnetic phase transition is identified at T≈170 K, whereas no trace of structural transition is observed down to 6 K. Combining Rietveld refinement with irreducible representations, the spin configuration of Cr ions in Cr2GaN is depicted as an incommensurate sinusoidal modulated structure characterized by a propagating vector k=(0.365, 0.365, 0). Upon warming up to the paramagnetic state, the magnetic order parameter closely resembles to the temperature dependence of c-axis lattice parameter, suggesting strong magneto-elastic coupling in this compound. Therefore, Cr2GaN provides a potential platform for the exploration of magnetically tuned properties such as magnetoelectric, magnetostrictive and magnetocaloric effects, as well as their applications.
@article{arxiv.2208.07019,
title = {Magneto-elastic coupling in a sinusoidal modulated magnet Cr$_2$GaN},
author = {Huican Mao and Yufeng Li and Qingyong Ren and Mihai Chu and Helen E. Maynard-Casely and Franz Demmel and Devashibhai Adroja and Hai-Hu Wen and Yinguo Xiao and Huiqian Luo},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2208.07019},
year = {2022}
}