Neutron diffraction and magnetic susceptibility studies of a polycrystalline SrCr$_2$As$_2$ sample reveal that this compound is an itinerant G-type antiferromagnet below the N${ \rm \acute{ e}}$el temperature $T_{ \textrm N}$ = 590(5) K with the Cr magnetic moments aligned along the tetragonal $c$ axis. The system remains tetragonal to the lowest measured temperature ($\sim$12 K). The lattice parameter ratio $c/a$ and the magnetic moment saturate at about the same temperature below $\sim$ 200 K, indicating a possible magnetoelastic coupling. The ordered moment, $\mu=1.9(1)~\mu_{ \rm B}$/Cr, measured at $T = 12$ K, is significantly reduced compared to its localized value ($4~\mu_{ \rm B}$/Cr) due to the itinerant character brought about by the hybridization between the Cr $3d$ and As $4p$ orbitals.
Categories: cond-mat.str-el