Canted antiferromagnetism in phase-pure CuMnSb

Abstract

We report the low-temperature properties of phase-pure single crystals of the half-Heusler compound CuMnSb grown by means of optical float-zoning. The magnetization, specific heat, electrical resistivity, and Hall effect of our single crystals exhibit an antiferromagnetic transition at $T_{\mathrm{N}} = 55~\mathrm{K}$ and a second anomaly at a temperature $T^{*} \approx 34~\mathrm{K}$. Powder and single-crystal neutron diffraction establish an ordered magnetic moment of $(3.9\pm0.1)~\mu_{\mathrm{B}}/\mathrm{f.u.}$, consistent with the effective moment inferred from the Curie-Weiss dependence of the susceptibility. Below $T_{\mathrm{N}}$, the Mn sublattice displays commensurate type-II antiferromagnetic order with propagation vectors and magnetic moments along $\langle111\rangle$ (magnetic space group $R[I]3c$). Surprisingly, below $T^{*}$, the moments tilt away from $\langle111\rangle$ by a finite angle $\delta \approx 11^{\circ}$, forming a canted antiferromagnetic structure without uniform magnetization consistent with magnetic space group $C[B]c$. Our results establish that type-II antiferromagnetism is not the zero-temperature magnetic ground state of CuMnSb as may be expected of the face-centered cubic Mn sublattice.