Low field spin switching of single crystal TmFeO3.

High quality TmFeO 3 single crystal with the length of 50 mm has been prepared by using a four-mirror optical floating zone furnace. X-ray diffractometer and Laue back reflection camera are used to determine the quality and crystal orientations of TmFeO 3 single crystal. Here, the magnetic properties of TmFeO 3 single crystal in low magnetic fields are studied systematically. A typical spin reorientation transition from Γ 4 (G x , A y , F z) configuration to Γ 2 (F x , C y , G z) configuration is observed in TmFeO 3 single crystal with the temperature between 82 K and 95 K. Temperature-induced type-II spin switching in both a -axis and c -axis are observed in field cooling and measuring while cooling (FCC) and field cooled and measuring while warming (FCW) modes, which has not been reported in previous researches on TmFeO 3 single crystal. This is an extremely rare occurrence within the R FeO 3 family. The results suggest that such spin switching is easily susceptible to very low external magnetic fields. Therefore, by adjusting the magnitude of the external magnetic fields, the triggering temperatures of spin switching can be controlled, which offers the possibility of the application for TmFeO 3 single crystal in future spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]