Determination of the magnetic symmetry of hexagonal manganites by second harmonic generation
Optical second harmonic spectroscopy is introduced as a powerful supplement for the determination of complex magnetic structures. Experimental efforts are simplified and new degrees of freedom are opened. Thereby, some principal or technical restrictions of neutron or magnetic x-ray diffraction experiments are overcome. High spatial resolution leads to additional information about magnetically ordered matter. As an example, the noncollinear magnetic structure of the hexagonal manganites RMnO3 ( R = Sc, Y, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) is analyzed. The results show that some earlier conclusions on their magnetic symmetry and properties should be revised.
Fiebig
M
Institut fur Physik, Universitat Dortmund, 44221 Dortmund, Germany.
Frohlich
D
Kohn
K
Leute
S
Lottermoser
T
Pavlov
VV
Pisarev
RV