Identification of spin reorientation by magnetization measurements in single crystals: Mn1.1Sb

Magnetization measurements have been performed along and perpendicular to the c-axis of Mn
1.1
Sb single crystal in the temperature range 293K-512K using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Spin reorientation transition has been found to occur at 380K. The temperature variation of saturation magnetization exhibited an anomaly around 380K which is attributed to the occurrence of the spin reorientation transition. The first order magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant (K
1
) has been evaluated employing the equation for the magnetization curve along the hard direction of magnetization. At 293K, K
1
is evaluated to be -6.8 × 10
⁴
j/m
³
and above 380K it is found to become positive indicating the occurrence of spin reorientation at 380K.