Weak ferromagnetism in magnetoelectrics LiCoPO4 and LiNiPO4

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The magnetic properties of the antiferromagnetic magnetoelectric single-crystals LiCoPO4 and LiNiPO4 were investigated using the SQUID-magnetometer. The magnetization was measured in a longitudinal experimental geometry (M // H) along the crystallographic axes a, b and c. The carried out investigations have shown that these compounds exhibit weak ferromagnetism. The weak ferromagnetic (WFM) moment is directed along the antiferromagnetic axis in both crystals. But the temperature behaviours of the weak ferromagnetic moments in LiCoPO4 and LiNiPO4 are different. The weak ferromagnetic moment in LiCoPO4 changes non-monotonically. The essential horizontal negative bias of the magnetic hysteresis loop is observed in LiCoPO4