Magnetic Properties of CrSb

Abstract

It is experimentally known that an antiferromagnetic compound CrSb (T_N≅700 K) with a NiAs type crystal structure exhibits unusual magnetic properties, that is, sharp decrease of magnetic moment, steep increase of magnetic specific heat and of magnetic susceptibility just below T_N with increasing temperature. These unusual behaviours are discussed on the basis of a molecular field theory by taking into account anisotropic strain dependence of exchange interactions. And it is pointed out that an effect of anisotropic normal thermal expansion of the crystal lattice can not be neglected.