Short-range magnetic correlations in Mn₃Si₂Te₆ investigated with neutron scattering

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vwd) layered magnets with strong anisotropic interaction represents an emerging class of materials with exceptional tunability of magnetic properties and provide a versatile platform for the exploration of 2D magnetism. Mn₃Si₂Te₆ represent such a material with a 2D layered structure, however additional magnetic ions lie within the van der Waals gap distinguishing it from conventional 2D vdW materials. This material has garnered significant interest due to its short-range magnetic order, colossal magnetoresistance, and field-induced spin canting. In this study, we conducted total neutron and polarized neutron scattering analysis on a powder sample of Mn₃Si₂Te₆ to probe the local structure and magnetization density. Our observation revealed intense magnetic diffuse scattering persisting well above the transition temperature (78 K). The measurements indicate that the Mn-spins lie within the ab-plane at all temperatures. By employing magnetic pair distribution function analysis, we successfully modeled the diffuse scattering directly in real space. Additionally, polarized neutron scattering measurements revealed the local anisotropy, providing further insights into the magnetic behavior of Mn₃Si₂Te₆.