Local canted spin behaviour in Co1.4-xZnxGe0.4Fe0.2O4 spinels: A macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic study

DC magnetization, neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction (with both polarized and unpolarized neutrons) measurements have been reported for th e Co1.4-xZnxGe0.4Fe1.2O4 spinels with x = 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7. Neutron depolar ization and neutron diffraction measurements confirm the presence of a long range ferrimagnetic ordering of the local canted spins in these ferrite sa mples. The observed features of low field magnetization have been explained under the framework of thermally activated domain wall movement of ferrima gnetic arrangement of local canted spins. An important role of magnetic ani sotropy (due to the presence of Co2+ ions) in establishing the magnetic ord ering and domain kinetics in these ferrites has been observed.