Magnetic Properties of a Single Crystal of Manganese Phosphide

Abstract

Magnetic measurements on a single crystal of MnP indicate strong ferromagnetic interactions at room temperature and cast doubt on previous ferrimagnetic or canted spin models. A new first‐order transformation has been observed at 50°K below which MnP is metamagnetic, i.e., it exhibits a ferromagnetic‐antiferromagnetic transformation which is a function of applied field and temperature. One possible explanation is that there are competing antiferromagnetic‐ferromagnetic interactions that are temperature‐dependent.