Frustrated pyrochlore oxides, Y2Mn2O7, Ho2Mn2O7, and Yb2Mn2O7: Bulk magnetism and magnetic microstructure

The bulk magnetic properties, including dc and ac susceptibilities and heat capacity, of the pyrochlore oxides Ho2Mn2O7 and Yb2Mn2O7 are reported and compared with those of the previously studied Y2Mn2O7. In the latter case the magnetic Mn4+ ions occupy the 16c sites in Fd3m which define a potentially frustrated three-dimensional array of corner sharing tetrahedra. For Ho2Mn2O7 and Yb2Mn2O7 magnetic rare earth ions occupy the 16d sites, as …