Lattice Anisotropy in Antiferromagnetic Chromium

Abstract
Thermal expansion and magnetostriction measurements on single-Q single-crystal chromium give the lattice parameter ratios in the orthorhombic phase below the Néel temperature and through the transition to the tetragonal phase at the spin-flip temperature, TF=122°K. The Q direction is the longest axis at 300°K and becomes the shortest axis below ∼200°K. The anisotropic discontinuities in length at TF result in a net volume dilatation, 1.4 × 106 with decreasing temperature.