Spin induced exchange bias and lattice modulation in Nd1−x Eu x CrO3

Abstract

Abstract We report the evolution of coupled phonons and exchange bias (EB) in perovskite-type Nd1−x Eu x CrO3 (x = 0.0, 0.05, and 0.10) samples by means of temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and dc magnetization measurements. We observed a non-monotonic behavior of the EB field around the temperature T *, which lies between the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature (T N) and spin-reorientation transition temperature (T SR). The temperature dependence of phonon modes related to antistretching and bending of CrO6 octahedra and Nd3+/Eu3+ ion vibration below T N confirms the strong spin–phonon coupling. The T * found from the non-monotonicity of the EB is imprinted with the additional anomaly observed in the low-temperature spin–phonon behavior. The phonon modes and phonon anomaly are also verified using the density functional theory-based calculations.