Probing of magnetic spin clusters in the spinel oxide compound Co0.8Mn0.2Al1.6Fe0.4O4

The competition of magnetic spin clusters with the ferrimagnetic long range order in the disordered spinel compound Co0.8Mn0.2Al1.6Fe0.4 O-4 has been probed through computer analysis of neutron data. A computer program has be en developed fur this analysis assuming a model for calculating the intensi ty of the (111) Bragg diffraction peak which contains a diffuse signal from magnetic spin clusters. The behavior of the clusters as a function of temp erature has been studied from the temperature response of the parameters wh ich contribute to the neutron intensity of the (111) Bragg peak. (C) 2001 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.