Neutron diffraction study of magnetic ordering in PrCu2Si2, PrCu2Ge2, PrFe2Ge2 and NdFe2Ge2

A neutron diffraction study of polycrystalline PrCu₂Si₂ [1], PrCu₂Ge₂ [2], PrFe₂Ge₂ [3] and NdFe₂Ge₂ [4] intermetallics carried out at liquid helium temperature shows the presence of a collinear antiferromagnetic order below T_N = 19 ± 1 K [1], T_N = 16 ± 1 K [2], T_N = 9 ± 1 K [3] and 13 ± 1 K [4]. Magnetic moment, parallel to the c-axis is localized on RE ions only. The magnetic structure of these compounds consists of ferromagnetic layers perpendicular to the c-axis coupled antiferromagnetically with sequence +-+- for PrCu₂Si₂ and PrCu₂Ge₂ and +--+ for PrFe₂Ge₂ and NdFe₂Ge₂. The RE moments amount close to the free ion values for Fe containing compounds but are smaller in those containing Cu suggesting a fairly strong influence of crystal field.     

Magnetic phase transition in TbMn2Ge2

The crystal and magnetic stucture of TbMn₂Ge₂ are determined by neutron diffraction using a powder sample. The crystal structure of this compound is of the ThCr₂Si₂ type with small mixing of Mn and Ge atoms between 4(d) and 4(e) positions. At RT the antiferromagnetic collinear structure consist of a+?+? sequence of ferromagnetic layers of Mn atoms with the magnetic moment parallel to the c-axis. At 85 K, the ferromagnetic ordering within the Tb sublattice is observed. The magnetic moment (～7.7 μ_B) is parallel to the c-axis. At 4.2 K additional reflections are observed, which correspond to antiferromagnetic components in a monoclinic unit cell.     

A magnetic study of the ThCr2Si2-type RPd2Ge2 (R=Pr, Nd) compounds. Magnetic structure of PrPd2Ge2 from powder neutron diffraction

The magnetic properties of the PrPd₂Ge₂ and NdPd₂Ge₂ compounds have been investigated by magnetic measurements, specific heat measurements and neutron diffraction experiments. The PrPd₂Ge₂ compound orders antiferromagnetically below T_N=5.0(2) with an original modulated magnetic structure characterized by a magnetic cell three times larger than the chemical one by tripling of the c parameter. The palladium atom is non magnetic and the Pr moments are parallel to the c-axis with a value of ≈2.0 μ_B at 2 K. The specific heat measurements clearly detect a low temperature transition for the NdPd₂Ge₂ compound, interpreted as a Nd sublattice antiferromagnetic ordering below 1.3(2) K.     

Magnetic properties of NdAu2Ge2

Physical properties of NdAu₂Ge₂, crystallising with the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂-type crystal structure, were investigated by means of magnetic, calorimetric and electrical transport measurements as well as by neutron diffraction. The compound exhibits antiferromagnetic ordering below T_N=4.5 K with a collinear magnetic structure of the AFI-type. The neodymium magnetic moments are parallel to the c-axis and amount to 1.04(4) μ_B at 1.5 K. The observed magnetic behaviour is strongly influenced by crystalline electric field effect.     

The antiferromagnetic structure of ErCo2Si2 by neutron diffraction

The magnetic structure of the tetragonal ErCo₂Si₂ compound is determined by neutron diffraction on powder sample at 4.2 K. The magnetic ordering is connected with a symmetry lowering, magnetic space group P_2s$\text{1}$ (Sh⁷₂)k = 000. The structure is collinear antiferromagnetic with the erbium magnetic moments making an angle of 56.2° with the c axis. The magnetic moment value for erbium is 6.75μ_B.     

Neutron diffraction study of DyCu2Ge2

The DyCu₂Ge₂ compound was studied by neutron diffraction on the Grenoble Nuclear Research Center multicounter system. The compound is isostructural to the rare earth RCu₂Ge₂ compounds with space group I4/mmm. 19 superlattice lines were observed in the 3 K pattern which are consistent with a doubling of the unit cell in the a and c directions. The moment value is 8 μ_B making an angle of 30° with a and 70° with c axis. The structure consists of ferromagnetic (1 0 1) layers with antiferromagnetic coupling between them. The Néel and Curie paramagnetic temperature of this compound is 8 K and ? 15 K respectively.     

Magnetic structure of TmCu2Ge2

TmCu₂Ge₂ compound crystallizes in the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂-type crystal structure. The neutron diffraction reveals the presence of an incommensurate antiferromagnetic order below T_N=2.5 K. The Tm magnetic moment of 5.0(1) μ_B at 0.47 K is parallel to the c-axis. The order is described by the propagation vector k=[k_x, k_x, 0], where k_x=0.117(3). The increase of the values of the components k_x near the Néel temperature is observed.     

The magnetic structure of HoCo2Si2

We have carried out neutron diffraction on a HoCo₂Si₂ powder sample at 4.2 K. The magnetic structure of this compound is collinear antiferromagnetic with the holmium magnetic moments parallel to the c-axis of the crystal. The magnetic moment value of holmium is 9.85 μ_B. The magnetic space group is I4/mm'm' (Sh⁴¹⁰₁₂₈) k = 000 The ordering temperature is t_n = 12(1) K.     

A powder neutron diffraction study of the ErCu2Ge2 compound - crystal field

The compound ErCu₂Ge₂ was studied by neutron diffraction. The diffraction diagram of this compound at 170 K agrees with its crystallographic structure. Its diagram at 1.9 K reveals the existence of superlattice lines consistent with a cell doubled in the a and c directions. The erbium magnetic moment (8.0±0.4)μ_B lies on the c-axis. Crystal field calculations on the Er³⁺ site give 7.9μ_B, with easy magnetization axis the c-axis of the crystal. Copper must contribute to the V^m_l crystal field parameters with a charge equal to 0.6⁺.     

Neutron diffraction study of RECo2Si2 intermetallics

A neutron diffraction study of polycrystalline RECo₂Si₂ intermetallics (RE = Pr, Nd, Tb, Ho, Er) carried out at liquid helium temperature shows the presence of a collinear antiferromagnetic ordering of +?+? type. Magnetic moment is localized on RE ions only and amounts to the RE³⁺ free ion value. In ErCo₂Si₂ the magnetic moment is normal to the tetragonal unique axis, whereas in the remaining compounds the magnetic moment is aligned along it. Néel points were determined from the temperature dependence of magnetic peak heights.     

NdNi2Ge2化合物的结构和电磁输运性质

利用非自耗真空电弧熔炼法制备了NdNi₂Ge₂化合物样品,采用X射线粉末衍射技术和Rietveld全谱拟合分析方法测定了其晶体结构. 结果显示该化合物的空间群为I4/mmm,点阵参数为:a=4.120(1),c=9.835(0),Z=2,Nd原子占据2a晶位,Ni原子占据4d晶位,Ge原子占据4e晶位. NdNi₂Ge₂化合物呈现顺磁性,应用居里-外斯定律拟合计算得到居里-外斯常数为25.8,居里-外斯温度为6.24 K. 有效势磁矩为3.69μ_B,这与理论计算Nd³⁺的磁矩相符,表明磁矩主要源于Nd³⁺. 电阻率变化范围为0.3 Ω ·μm^-1-1 Ω ·μm,电阻曲线拟合显示NdNi₂Ge₂呈半金属性. 关键词： 2Ge₂')" href="#">NdNi₂Ge₂ Rietveld结构精修 电磁输运     

金属间化合物DyMn2Ge2的自发磁相变和场诱导的磁相变

在10—800K的温度范围内用X射线衍射方法测量了DyMn₂Ge₂化合物的晶格常数与温度的变化关系,观察到高温时DyMn₂Ge₂由顺磁状态到反铁磁状态的自发磁相变伴随着晶格常数a的负的磁弹性异常现象.在4.2K—200K的温度范围内测量了DyMn₂Ge₂的交流磁化率.在交换相互作用的分子场模型近似下,从理论上分析讨论了DyMn₂Ge₂的低温自发磁相变和场诱导的磁相变.计算了DyMn₂Ge₂单晶的磁化强度与温度的变化关系以及不同温度下外磁场沿晶轴c方向时的磁化曲线.理论分析和计算结果表明,温度低于33K时在DyMn₂Ge₂中观察到的场诱导的一级磁相变为由亚铁磁状态(Fi)到中间态(IS)相变. 关键词： 稀土-过渡族金属间化合物 磁结构 磁相变     

Magnetic ordering and low-temperature thermodynamic properties of ErFe2Ge2

Polycrystalline sample of ErFe₂Ge₂ was investigated by means of magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements, as well as by powder neutron diffraction. All these experiments yielded an evidence of magnetic ordering setting at about 3 K. The low-temperature neutron data revealed the formation of a sine-modulated commensurate antiferromagnetic structure characterized by the propagation vector k=(0, 0, ). The erbium magnetic moment is aligned parallel to the crystallographic a-axis. At T=1.55 K it is equal to 7.06(5) μ_B.     

The antiferromagnetic structures of TbCu2Ge2 and HoCu2Ge2 by neutron diffraction

The magnetic structures of TbCu₂Ge₂ and HoCu₂Ge₂ were studied by neutron diffraction. At 293 K the chemical structure is tetragonal body centered, space group I 4/mmm. The magnetic cell at 4.2 K is four times larger than the chemical one with a wave vector $\text{k =}\text{1}\text{2}\text{0}\text{1}\text{2}$. The magnetic space group is triclinic P_a$\text{1}$(Sh₂⁷) for both compounds. The moment values and directions are μ_Tb = 8.48(6) [μ_B] along [110] tetr. and μ_HO = 6.5(1)[μ_B] making an angle of 81.4(°) with c and 80(°) with a₁. The structure consists of ferromagnetic (101) layers stacked antiferromagnetically.     

Crystals and magnetic structure of RMn2Si2 (R = Pr, Nd, Y) and YMn2Ge2

Crystallographic and magnetic properties of PrMn₂Si₂, NdMn₂Si₂, YMn₂Si₂ and YMn₂Ge₂ intermetallics were studied by X-ray, neutron diffraction and magnetometric measurements. The crystal structure of all four compounds was confirmed to be body-centered tetragonal (space group I4/mmm). All were found to be antiferromagnetic with Néel points at 368, 380, 460 and 395 K respectively. Neutron diffraction results indicate that their magnetic structure consists of ferromagnetic layers composed of Mn ions piled up along the c-axis. Each layer is antiferromagnetically coupled to adjacent layer. The magnetic space group is I_p4/m′m′m′. No magnetic ordering of the R sublattice was observed at 1.8 K in the case of R = Pr and Nd.     

Neutron diffraction study of antiferromagnetic TbIn3

Observations were on a polycrystalline sample using unpolarised neutrons, at temperatures of 4.2 K and 100 K. There is 1 1 0 antiferromagnetic ordering. The magnetic moment is 7.2±0.4 μ_B, with its direction close to that of the c-axis.     

Magnetism and hyperfine interactions in EuM2Ge2 and GdM2Ge2(M = Mn,Fe, Co,Ni, Cu)

X-ray, magnetic susceptibility and ¹⁵¹Eu, ¹⁵⁵Gd Mössbauer effect studies of EuM₂Ge₂ and GdM₂Ge₂ were performed. All compounds crystallize in the ThCr₂Si₂ body centered tetragonal structure. In all compounds, except those with M = Mn and in EuM₂Ge₂, the M component carries no magnetic moment. All compounds except those with Mn are antiferromagnetic at low temperatures. In EuMn₂Ge₂ the Mn moments order ferromagnetically at 330 K and change to antiferromagnetic order when the Eu moments order ferromagnetically (9 K). This behaviour is different from that in GdMn₂Ge₂, where the Mn sublattice orders antiferromagnetically at 365 K and becomes ferromagnetic and antiparallel to the ferromagnetic Gd sublattice at 96 K. The Mössbauer studies of ¹⁵¹Eu and ¹⁵¹Gd provide values for the magnetic hyperfine fields, the quadrupole interactions and the orientation of the magnetic moments relative to the local fourfold axis (c-axis). It turns out that in the Eu compounds the easy axis of magnetization is close to the c-axis, while in the Gd compounds it is in the basal plane. In all systems, excluding those with Mn, the interatomic rare earth-rare earth distances have the dominant effect on the conduction electron charge density and polarization at the rare earth site and on the Curie point.     

Magnetic structures of PrCO2Si2 and TbCo2Si2 compounds

Neutron diffraction studies of polycrystalline PrCo₂Si₂ and TbCo₂Si₂ compounds were carried out at 4.2 and 293 K. Both samples have collinear antiferromagnetic order below T_N(31(1) and 46(1) K for Pr and Tb compound respectively), with their magnetic moments parallel to the c axis. The ordered magnetic moment values of Pr and Tb at 4.2 K (3.19 and 9.12 μ_B respectively), are close to the saturation value of the free ions. The corresponding magnetic space group P_l4/mnc (Sh⁴¹⁰₁₂₈) is body-anticentered ($\text{k =}\text{111}\text{222}$ refering to P_l cell).     

Valence fluctuation in Ce2Co3Ge5 and crystal field effect in Pr2Co3Ge5

Polycrystalline samples of ternary rare-earth germanides R₂Co₃Ge₅ (R=La, Ce and Pr) have been prepared and investigated by means of magnetic susceptibility, isothermal magnetization, electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements. All these compounds crystallize in orthorhombic U₂Co₃Si₅ structure (space group Ibam). No evidence of magnetic or superconducting transition is observed in any of these compounds down to 2 K. The unit cell volume of Ce₂Co₃Ge₅ deviates from the expected lanthanide contraction, indicating non trivalent state of Ce ions in this compound. The reduced value of effective moment (μ_eff≈0.95 μ_B) compared to that expected for trivalent Ce ions further supports valence-fluctuating nature of Ce in Ce₂Co₃Ge₅. The observed temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility is consistent with the ionic interconfiguration fluctuation (ICF) model. Although no sharp anomaly due to a phase transition is seen, a broad Schottky-type anomaly is observed in the magnetic part of specific heat of Pr₂Co₃Ge₅. An analysis of C_mag data suggests a singlet ground state in Pr₂Co₃Ge₅ separated from the singlet first excited state by 22 K and a doublet second excited state at 73 K.     

Magnetic structure of the Mn5Si3-type Er5Ge3 compound

The Er₅Ge₃ compound (Mn₅Si₃-type, hP16, P6₃/mcm) at 4 K shows magnetic ordering of the antiferromagnetic type. Its magnetic structure consists of sine modulated collinear magnetic moments of Er that are parallel to the c axis (with a propagation vector k=[0 0 ±0.3]). This corresponds to the magnetic unit cell (a a 10c), the values of the magnetic moment of the Er atoms being, as a general formula, M_z≈M₀ cos [2π(Z–1/4)(1–kZ)], with M₀=9.2(2) μ_B at 4 K.