ESR study of spin dynamics in (Er0.5Y0.5)2Cu2O5 solid solution

Powder samples of (Er0.5Y0.5)2Cu 2O5 have been synthesized by a solid state reaction method. Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements have been carried out on a Broker E 500 X-band spectrometer in the 4-300 K temperature range. A single, almost Lorentzian-shaped resonance line has been recorded for the whole investigated temperature range and its ESR parameters (integrated intensity, linewidth and resonance field) displayed a strong temperature dependence. The integrated intensity of the resonance line showed a pronounced maximum in low-temperature range and vanished at the transition to the antiferromagnetic ordering at TN = 11 K. The temperature at which the ESR integrated intensity reaches its maximum is different for the heating and cooling runs. Below 40 K, on approach to TN, the linewidth exhibited a divergent behaviour due to the onset of three-dimensional magnetic order. At higher temperatures (about 220 K), variations in ESR magnetic susceptibility suggest the presence of dynamical processes in copper-oxygen chains leading to the formation of copper dirners. The observed changes of the ESR parameters are interpreted in terms of 2D magnetism of the copper-oxygen system in the (Er 0.5Y0.5)2Cu2O5 solid solution.