Magnetic phase diagrams of the Kagome staircase compound Co3V2O8

Abstract At zero magnetic field, a series of five phase transitions occur in Co 3 V 2 O 8 . The Neel temperature, T N = 11.4 K , is followed by four additional phase changes at T 1 = 8.9 K , T 2 = 7.0 K , T 3 = 6.9 K , and T 4 = 6.2 K . The different phases are distinguished by the commensurability of the b-component of its spin density wave vector. We investigate the stability of these various phases under magnetic fields through dielectric constant and magnetic susceptibility anomalies. The field-temperature phase diagram of Co 3 V 2 O 8 is completely resolved. The complexity of the phase diagram results from the competition of different magnetic states with almost equal ground state energies due to competing exchange interactions and frustration.