Evidence for the coexistence of low-dimensional magnetism and long-range order in Ca3CoRhO6

We report the results of neutron powder diffraction studies on the spin-chain compound Ca3CoRhO6 in the temperature range 3 to 293 K. Bragg peaks due to magnetic ordering start appearing below about 100 K. The most interesting observation is that there is a diffuse magnetic peak superimposed over the strongest magnetic Bragg peak. The diffuse magnetic intensity is observed below as well above 100 K. This finding provides a new insight into the physics of this compound as though the low-dimensional magnetic interaction coexists with long range magnetic order - a novel situation among quasi one-dimensional oxides.