Magnetic neutron scattering measurements on a single crystal of frustrated ZnFe2O4 -: art. no. 024412

Single crystals of ZnFe2O4 are investigated with neutron scattering measurements from the viewpoint of geometrical frustration. Magnetic diffuse scattering was distributed along the first Brillouin zone boundary of the fcc structure. The results show that the frustration occurs between the antiferromagnetically coupled third-neighbor spins, rather than between the similarly coupled first-neighbor spins. In addition, another type of diffuse scattering was found around some nuclear Bragg peak positions. This indicates that the first-neighbor exchange interaction in the 90degrees configuration is ferromagnetic rather than antiferromagnetic. Energy spectra were investigated at several points. The unusual magnetic behavior originates from the geometrical frustration and a unique property of the first-neighbor interaction.