From mean-field localized magnetism to itinerant spin fluctuations in the "Non-metallic metal" - FeCrAs

FeCrAs displays an unusual electrical response that is neither metallic in character nor divergent at low temperatures, as expected for an insulating response, and therefore it has been termed a "nonmetal-metal". We carried out neutron scattering experiments on powder and single crystal samples to study the magnetic dynamics and critical fluctuations in FeCrAs. Magnetic neutron diffraction measurements find Cr3+ magnetic order setting in at 115 K with the mean-field critical exponent. Neutron spectroscopy, however, observes gapless stiff magnetic fluctuations emanating from magnetic positions with propagation wave vector q_0=(1/3,1/3), which persists up to at least 80 meV. The magnetism in FeCrAs therefore displays a response which resembles that of itinerant magnets at high energy transfers, such as chromium alloys. We suggest that the presence of stiff high-energy spin fluctuations is the origin of the unusual temperature dependence of the resistivity.