Magnetic properties and spin reorientation of perovskite SmFe0.5Mn0.5O3 single crystal

The crystal structure and magnetic properties of the rare-earth perovskite SmFe0.5Mn0.5O3 single crystal were studied. The single crystal was successfully synthesized by optical-floating-zone method. M-T and M-H curves were measured to study the magnetic state in the single crystal. Strong magnetic anisotropy was observed in temperature dependent magnetization measurements along three crystallographic axes a, b and c. The first magnetic phase transition at T-N=286 K is paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition. The M-T curve then undergoes a second intriguing transition from 254 K to 244 K and this transition is spin orientation from Gamma(4) (Gx, Ay, Fz) to Gamma(1) (Ax, Gy, Cz) due to anisotropic Mn3+ ions and complex interaction in our sample. Magnetic transition of rare earth oxides was tuned by Mn3+ doping, which has potential for future application.