Static and Dynamic Magnetic Properties of Spin-1/2 Inequilateral Diamond-Chain Compounds $A_3$Cu$_3$AlO$_2$(SO$_4$)$_4$ ($A$=K, Rb, and Cs)

Abstract

Spin-1/2 compounds A3Cu3AlO2(SO4)4 (A=K, Rb, and Cs) have one-dimensional (1D) inequilateral diamond chains. We analyze the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility and determine the magnetic exchange interactions. In contrast to the azurite, a dimer is formed on one of the sides of the diamond. From numerical analyses of the proposed model, we find that the dimer together with a nearly isolated 1D Heisenberg chain characterizes magnetic properties including magnetization curve and magnetic excitations. This implies that a dimer-monomer composite chain without frustration is a good starting point for describing these compounds.