Mechanical spectra measurement to probe the magnetolattice coupling in cupric oxide

Mechanical spectra (complex Young's modulus Y*=Y′+iY″ versus frequency and temperature) of polycrystalline cupric oxide CuO were measured by vibrating reed method from liquid nitrogen temperature to room temperature at the kilohertz frequency. The abnormal behavior of internal friction and the change of slope of the real part of the complex Young's modulus versus temperature are observed around 213 and 230 K, where two successive magnetic transitions were established. At low temperatures, below 130 K, a higher internal friction platform with the decrease of temperature was clearly observed which might show a phase transition. Our study indicates that mechanical spectrum is an effective tool to detect subtle phase transitions and there is a strong magnetolattice coupling in CuO.