Abstract The magnetism in the inherently nanolaminated ternary MAX-phase Cr2GeC is investigated by element-selective, polarization and temperature-dependent, soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The measurements indicate an antiferro-magnetic Cr-Cr coupling along the c-axis of the hexagonal structure modulated by a ferromagnetic ordering in the nanolaminated ab-basal planes. The weak chromium magnetic moments are an order of magnitude stronger in the nanolaminated planes than along the vertical axis. Theoretically, a small but notable, non-spin-collinear component explains the existence of a non-perfect spin compensation along the c-axis. As shown in this work, this spin distortion generates an overall residual spin moment inside the unit cell resembling that of a ferri-magnet. Due to the different competing magnetic interactions, electron correlations and temperature effects both need to be considered to achieve a correct theoretical description of the Cr2GeC magnetic properties.

中文翻译：

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通过 X 射线磁圆二色性和从头算计算研究 Cr2GeC 中的磁各向异性

摘要 通过元素选择性、极化和温度相关、软 X 射线吸收光谱和 X 射线磁性圆二色性研究了固有纳米层压三元 MAX 相 Cr2GeC 的磁性。测量结果表明反铁磁 Cr-Cr 耦合沿六边形结构的 c 轴由纳米层压 ab 基平面中的铁磁排序调制。弱铬磁矩在纳米层压平面中比沿垂直轴强一个数量级。从理论上讲，一个小但值得注意的非自旋共线分量解释了沿 c 轴存在非完美自旋补偿。正如这项工作所示，这种自旋畸变在晶胞内部产生了一个类似于亚铁磁体的整体残余自旋力矩。