Chiral and helical phase transition in quasi-1D molecular magnets

We review recent experimental data obtained with quasi-one-dimensional (1D) molecular magnets Gd(hfaC)(3)NITR. For Gd(hfac)(3)NITiPr the results can be coherently explained only in terms of the Villain's conjecture: a chiral order at intermediate temperatures and helical order at low temperatures. In the case of weakly frustrated molecular magnetic chain compounds Gd(hfac)(3)-NITPh, new specific heat measurements show the presence of a phase transition to the three-dimensional (3D) helical order, observed at T similar to 0.63 K. In the temperature range 25-250 mK the experimental specific heat data are reproduced very well by a simple spin wave theory. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.