Abstract
The presence of both strong interchain and intrachain interactions of an antiferromagnetic as well as an ferromagnetic nature may lead to the appearance of a gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum of LiCu2(VO4)(OH)(2) as evidenced by the hump in magnetic susceptibility chi at T* approximate to 30 K. The temperature range of short-range magnetic order is terminated by the onset of long-range magnetic order at T-N = 10 K, which is triggered by substantial interchain exchange interactions. This observation is corroborated by the specific heat, Cr singularity, electron spin resonance, and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. The latter reveals a broad distribution of the resonance fields ascribed to the formation of a helix magnetic structure. First -principles calculations allow estimations of both intrachain and interchain exchange interaction parameters, suggesting the implementation of a strongly coupled scenario with competing inter- and intrachain interactions.