A second-order spin-flop transition in collinear two-sublattice antiferromagnets

Abstract

Identifying the nature of a spin-flop (SFO) transition, first- or second-order (FO or SO), remains a major challenge in condensed-matter physics due to the technically undistinguishable effect of misalignment between applied-field direction and the relevant antiferromagnetic (AFM) easy axis. A classical SFO transition is believed to be of FO in character. Here a mean-field theoretical calculation endowed with AFM exchange interaction (\emph{J}), easy axis anisotropy ($\gamma$), uniaxial single-ion exchange anisotropy (\emph{D}), and Zeeman coupling to a magnetic field parallel to the easy axis unambiguously reveals that a SO SFO transition indeed exists by virtue of its relatively lower free energy. Their equilibrium phase conditions are found to be: $D \geq 0$ (FO); $-\frac{1}{2} \gamma < D < 0$ (SO). Compared numerically to the associated AFM and spin-flip phases, the deduced SO SFO transition results from a negative single-ion anisotropy which is restricted to a certain range by the anisotropic exchange interaction