Field-induced transverse spin ordering in FeBr2

Abstract

Weak first-order phase transitions from axial to oblique spin ordering in FeBr2 are evidenced by SQUID magnetometry in axial fields H1(T) above the multicritical point, Hm = 2.4 MA/m, Tm = 4.6 K, and below the antiferro-to-paramagnetic phase line, Hc(T), in agreement with recent specific heat data (Aruga Katori et al., 1996). The ordering of the in-plane moments is probably due to non-diagonal coupling to the longitudinal ones, both of which increase dis-continuously at H1(T) only under an additional symmetry-breaking transverse field.