Spin-glass state induced low field magnetization-step effect in a Hg_1−xMn_xTe single crystal

The low field magnetization-step effect was observed in the spin-glass (SG) regime of p-type Hg_0.8Mn_0.2 single crystal when the temperature was less than about 3 K. The main features of this effect were (i) the magnetic susceptibility suddenly reduced to almost zero as the magnetic field decreased below a critical value; (ii) the critical magnetic field correlated reversely to temperature. In addition, X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and temperature-dependent Hall measurements manifested this effect was the intrinsic nature of the Hg_1-xMN_x single crystal. Qualitative theoretical analysis suggests that the possible mechanism of low field magnetization-step effect is the combined effect of SG transition and (long-range) antiferromagnetic interactions among Mn²⁺ ions in randomly frustrated spins system.