Quasi-one-dimensional magnons in an intermetallic marcasite

Abstract

We present inelastic neutron scattering measurements and ¯rst principles calculations examining the intermetallic marcasite CrSb2. The observed spin wave dispersion implies that the magnetic interactions are strongly one-dimensional with antiferromagnetic chains parallel to the crystalline c-axis. Such low-dimensional excitations are unexpected in a semiconducting intermetallic system. Moreover this material may be further interesting in that the magnetic anisotropy may enhance thermoelectric properties along particular crystallographic directions.