Short-range spin order in paramagnetic AgCrSe

常磁性AgCrSeの短範囲スピン秩序

中村 惇平*; 川北 至信  ; 岡部 博孝*; Li, B.*; 下村 浩一郎*; 末益 崇*

Nakamura, Jumpei*; Kawakita, Yukinobu; Okabe, Hirotaka*; Li, B.*; Shimomura, Koichiro*; Suemasu, Takashi*

Muon spin rotation (SR) experiments were performed to directly investigate the temperature dependence of the short-range order or correlations of chromium spins in the paramagnetic phase of AgCrSe. The detailed investigation of the SR spectra over a wide temperature range from low to high temperatures revealed that the short-range spin correlations developed below about 184 K. It also confirmed no short-range correlations at high temperatures, which had been controversial in previous quasi-elastic neutron scattering studies. In addition, the muon spin relaxation was qualitatively changed and showed large missing asymmetry below about 89 K, where the correlation clearly implied short-range spin order. There could be a preparative phenomenon of the phase transition or an anisotropic short-range spin correlation.