Microwave EPR spectroscopy of cobalt-doped germanium cuprate

Resonance magnetoabsorption spectra of CuGeO₃ single crystals containing 2% Co impurity have been studied in the frequency range 60-360 GHz in magnetic fields of up to 16 T and in the temperature interval 2-60 K with the magnetic field B aligned parallel to the a crystallographic axis. In addition to the Cu²⁺ chain resonance, a new absorption line (unobserved previously in doped CuGeO₃ and deriving apparently from the Co ²⁺ ions) was detected in EPR spectra. Quantitative analysis of the spectra suggests that the spin-Peierls transition occurs in about 10% Cu ²⁺ chains, while the spin-Peierls state in the remaining 90% chains is completely destroyed by cobalt doping. The results obtained reveal considerable deviations from the universally accepted scenario of CuGeO ₃ doping and are discussed within alternative theoretical models, namely, the quantum critical behavior (based on the EPR theory for quasi-one-dimensional systems) and a three-dimensional antiferromagnet with the Néel temperature lowered by disorder.