Incommensurate lattice modulation in the spin-Peierls systemCuGeO3

Abstract

We have characterized the lattice structure of the spin-Peierls compound ${\mathrm{CuGeO}}_3$ by high-resolution x-ray diffraction in high magnetic fields. A very sharp magnetic-field-induced commensurate-incommensurate transition occurs at 12.5 T. The wavelength of the incommensurate lattice modulation increases as the commensurate-incommensurate phase boundary is approached both at fixed field and at fixed temperature.