Magnetic properties of the itinerant A- type antiferromagnet CaCo 2 P 2 studied by Co 59 and P 31 nuclear magnetic resonance
59 Co and 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements in external magnetic and zero magnetic fields have been performed to investigate the magnetic properties of the A-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) CaCo 2 P 2 . NMR data, especially the nuclear spin lattice relaxation rates 1/T 1 exhibiting a clear peak, provide clear evidence for the AFM transition at a Néel temperature of T N ~ 110 K. The magnetic fluctuations in the paramagnetic state were found to be three-dimensional ferromagnetic, suggesting ferromagnetic interaction between Co spins in the ab plane characterizes the spin correlations in the paramagnetic state. In the AFM state below TN, we have observed 59 Co and 31 P NMR signals under zero magnetic field. From 59 Co NMR data, the ordered magnetic moments of Co are found to be in ab plane and are estimated to be 0.35 μ B at 4.2 K. Furthermore, the external field dependence of 59 Co NMR spectrum in the AFM state suggests a very weak magnetic anisotropy of the Co ions and also provides microscopic evidence of canting the Co-ordered moments along the external magnetic field directions. The magnetic state of the Co ions in CaCo 2 P 2 is well explained by the local-moment picture in the AFM state, although the system is metallic, as seen by 1/T 1 T = constant behavior.