Low temperature neutron diffraction studies showing evidence for charge-exchange-type magnetic ordering in Mn doped SrRuO(3)

SrRuO(3) is a 4d transition metal oxide having a metallic and itinerant ferromagnetic character with T(C)similar to 165 K. Mn doping in SrRuO(3) induces antiferromagnetic interaction, with the equiatomic composition SrRu(0.5)Mn(0.5)O(3) showing T(C)similar to 125 K. Temperature dependent zero field cooled and field cooled magnetization data, resistivity data, and neutron diffraction studies on SrRu(0.5)Mn(0.5)O(3) show the signature of the presence of two ferromagnetic zigzag chains coupled antiferromagnetically, called charge exchange (CE)-type antiferromagnetic ordering; this is contrary to the role of Ru(+4), which is reported to remove charge ordering in manganites. The presence of significant amount of Mn(+3) ions plays an important role in stabilizing the CE-type antiferromagnetic ordering. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.