High-resolution diffraction reveals magnetoelastic coupling and coherent phase separation in tetragonal CuMnAs

Tetragonal CuMnAs was the first antiferromagnet where reorientation of the Neel vector was reported to occur by an inverse spin galvanic effect. A complicating factor in the formation of phase-pure tetragonal CuMnAs is the formation of an orthorhombic phase with nearly the same stoichiometry. Pure-phase tetragonal CuMnAs has been reported to require an excess of Cu to maintain a single phase in traditional solid state synthesis reactions. Here we show that subtle differences in diffraction patterns signal pervasive inhomogeneity and phase separation, even in Cu-rich Cu1.18Mn0.82As. From calorimetry and magnetometry measurements, we identify two transitions corresponding to the Neel temperature (T-N) and an antiferromagnet to weak ferromagnet transition in Cu1.18Mn0.82As and CuMn0.964As1.036. These transitions have clear crystallographic signatures, directly observable in the lattice parameters upon in situ heating and cooling. The immiscibility and phase separation could arise from a spinoidal decomposition that occurs at high temperatures, and the presence of a ferromagnetic transition near room temperature warrants further investigation of its effect on the electrical switching behavior.