Itinerant G-type antiferromagnetic order in SrCr2As2

Neutron-diffraction and magnetic susceptibility studies of polycrystalline SrCr2As2 reveal that this compound is an itinerant G-type antiferromagnet below the Neel temperature T-N = 590(5) K with the Cr magnetic moments aligned along the tetragonal c axis. The system remains tetragonal to the lowest measured temperature (similar to 12 K). The lattice parameter ratio c / a and the magnetic moment saturate at about the same temperature below similar to 200 K, indicating a possible magnetoelastic coupling. The ordered moment mu = 1.9(1) mu B/Cr, measured at T = 12 K, is significantly reduced compared to its localized value (4 mu(B/Cr)) due to the itinerant character brought about by hybridization between the Cr 3d and As 4p orbitals.