Spin-lattice instability to a fractional magnetization state in the spinel HgCr
O
Matsuda, Masaaki; Ueda, Hiroaki*; Kikkawa, Akiko*; Tanaka, Yoshikazu*; Katsumata, Koichi*; Narumi, Yasuo*; Inami, Toshiya; Ueda, Yutaka*; Lee, S.-H.*
Cr-CrCr-based spinel compounds ACr
O
(A=Mg, Zn, Cd, and Hg) are so far the best model systems for a network of corner-sharing tetrahedrons with isotropic nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions. The systems exhibit novel spin-Peierls phase transitions from cubic spin liquid to non-cubic N
el states at low temperatures. Recent bulk magnetization studies on CdCr
O
and HgCr
O
revealed the magnetic field-induced half magnetization plateau states that are stable over a wide range of field. Recent bulk magnetization studies on CdCr
O
and HgCr
O
revealed the magnetic field-induced half magnetization plateau states that are stable over a wide range of field.