Magnetodielectric and magnetoelastic properties of spinel Mn ₃O₄

The magnetodielectric and magnetoelastic properties of spinel Mn ₃O₄ with the orbital degree of freedom in the e _g state of the Mn³⁺ site were investigated. We found that strain (ΔL/L) shows anomalies at the magnetic phase transition temperatures and is anisotropic against the crystallographic axis. We also found that this compound exhibits large magnetic field (H) dependences of ΔL/L, details of which are different at three different magnetic phases. Similar anomalies and H dependence are observed in dielectric measurements. These behaviors can be explained by the inverse effect of single-ion spin anisotropy.