Magnetization process of itinerant-electron-type helical-spin-glass reentrant magnet Cr0.81Mn0.19Ge observed on various spatial scales

The magnetization process of an itinerant-electron-type helical-spin-glass reentrant magnet Cr1-xMnxGe was analyzed using magnetic measurement, neutro n depolarization analysis and small-angle neutron scattering, each of which has a different spatial resolution. At temperatures ranging from similar t o 8 to 13 K, the helical magnetism having a wave vector parallel to the cry stal axis is stable in a zero magnetic held. As the magnitude of the held i ncreases, the conical spin structure having a screw axis parallel to the ap plied field appears, and the cone angle decreases continuously. This change in spin structure primarily determines the macroscopic magnetization proce ss in low magnetic fields. Although a ferromagnetic structure is induced in higher applied fields, magnetization saturation is difficult to achieve du e to the inter-domain interaction. At approximately 8 K, spin-glass-like si ngularity is confirmed by means of the above-mentioned experimental methods . The appearance of spin-glass-like behavior is accompanied by changes in s pin configuration on a microscopic scale. This behavior can be interpreted in terms of a mean-held-type picture, based on the spatial scale of the int eraction. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.