Short and long range magnetic ordering in the distorted triangular lattice TbOF

The proposal aims to study the magnetic excitations in the ordered and disordered phase of the rhombohedral compound, TbOF, space group R-3m (166), a triangular lattice and a potential host for exotic magnetic states. TbOF, shows unusual magnetic properties with the magnetic susceptibility revealing a broad maximum at around 10 K and a second transition near 5 K. These transitions correspond to a complex disordered phase and a long range ordered phase, respectively, according to neutron diffraction. We will study the crystal field levels and low-lying magnetic excitations to elucidate the relevant magnetic exchange interactions and anisotropies that drive the magnetic behaviour in TbOF.