Magnetization and Spin Correlation of Two-Dimensional Triangular Antiferromagnet LuFe₂O₄

Magnetization, neutron diffraction and Mössbauer measurements have been performed on a two dimensional (2D) double-layered triangular antiferromagnet LuFe 3+ Fe 2+ O 4 single crystal. Two magnetic rods (0, 1, l ) and (1/3, 1/3, l ) with broad widths across them reveal that 2D magnetic ordering is not of long range and no 3D one occurs down to 4.2 K in contrast to an ordinary magnetic system. Thermoremanent magnetization measurements suggest that the system consists of various size ferrimagnetic clusters. The characteristic profile of l -scan in (0, 1, l ) can be realized by taking account of correlation among clusters for intra double-layers and inter double-layers. The temperature variations of intensity in magnetic scattering can be explained qualitatively by assuming unequal exchange interactions among three sublattice.