Metamagnetic transition in single-crystal Bi4Cu3V2O14

We report on high magnetic field magnetization, magnetic torque, specific-heat, and V 51 NMR measurements on Bi4Cu3V2O14 single crystals, which display a characteristic chain structure along the crystallographic a axis. The system undergoes a magnetic phase transition below 5.5 K. For the magnetic field H∥a, the data reveal a metamagnetic transition from an antiferromagnetic (AFM) to a weak-ferromagnetic (WFM) state at Hc≃7.6 T. Based on our results, the low-temperature magnetic phase diagram is determined. Furthermore, the magnetization measurements along with the NMR results suggest that the weak ferromagnetism along the a axis is possibly due to a canted AFM spin structure with two distinct magnetic sublattices.