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.     

Magnetic structure of the Sm5Ge4-type Tb2Ti3Ge4

The orthorhombic Sm₅Ge₄-type Tb₂Ti₃Ge₄ shows square modulated non-collinear magnetic ordering with wave vector K=[±1/3, 1/2, 1/2] at 2 K. The terbium magnetic moments lie in the bc plane and magnetic moment value of 7.5(2) μ_B/Tb is obtained at 2 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.     

Magnetic structure of the La3NiGe2-type Tb3NiGe2 and Mn5Si3-type Tb5NixGe3−x (x=0 and 0.3)

We present a neutron powder diffraction investigation of the magnetic structure of La₃NiGe₂-type Tb₃NiGe₂ and Mn₅Si₃-type Tb₅Ni_xGe_3−x (x=0, 0.3) compounds. It is found that below∼135 K Tb₃NiGe₂ exhibits a commensurate b-collinear ferrimagnetic ordering with C_2h′={1, m_z, 1′×2_z, 1′×1?} magnetic point group. The Mn₅Si₃-type Tb₅Ge₃ and Tb₅Ni_0.3Ge_2.7 compounds are found to present a flat spiral type antiferromagnetic ordering at 85 and ≥89 K, respectively. The Ni for Ge substitution is found to decrease the flat spiral ordered magnetic unit cell from a×a×40c of Tb₅Ge₃ (below 40 K) down to a×a×5c for Tb₅Ni_0.3Ge_2.7 (below ∼10 K).     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of TbFe0.4Ge2 compound

Neutron diffraction and magnetic measurements were performed on polycrystalline TbFe_0.4Ge₂ which crystallizes with the orthorhombic structure of the CeNiSi₂-type. Despite the presence of some clear anomalies in the low-temperature magnetic susceptibility, the neutron diffraction experiment did not reveal any long-range magnetic ordering of the Tb magnetic moments down to 1.57 K.     

Magnetostructural phase transitions of DyFe4Ge2: Part II Neutron diffraction

We present the temperature magnetic phase diagram of the compound DyFe₄Ge₂ determined from neutron diffraction data for the entire magnetically ordered regime. DyFe₄Ge₂ undergoes at a simultaneous structural and magnetic transition of second order (or weakly first order) followed by two subsequent isostructural first-order magnetic transitions at and T_ic1=28K:

The re-entrant lock-in magnetic phase is stable in the high-temperature range T_ic2–T_N and in the low-temperature range 1.5 K–T_ic1 while the incommensurately modulated magnetic phase is sandwiched in the intermediate range T_ic1–T_ic2 between the two commensurate phases. The wave vector q₂ has a temperature-dependent length with a minimum in the middle of the incommensurate range and corresponds to a multiaxial amplitude modulated phase. Symmetry analysis leads for both propagation vectors in Cmmm to a twofold and fourfold splitting of the tetragonal Dy 2b site and the Fe 8i sites, respectively. The low temperature and the phases correspond to 3D canted magnetic structures described by the irreducible representations (Irreps) Γ₂+Γ₃ while the high-temperature q₁ phase to 2D canted magnetic structures described by a single Irrep Γ₂. The T_ic2 transition is connected with reorientations of both Fe and Dy moments.     

Magnetic and crystallographic study of Tb0.75Y0.25Co3B2

Tb_0.75Y_0.25Co₃B₂ was studied as a function of temperature by neutron powder diffraction, ac susceptibility and SQUID magnetization measurements. The solid solution, which is of hexagonal symmetry and is paramagnetic at 300 K, undergoes a magnetic Co–Co ordering transition at ∼150 K, and a second magnetic Tb–Tb ordering transition at ∼17 K. The latter induces a spin-reorientation transition, in which the magnetic axis rotates from the c-axis toward the basal plane. The component of the magnetic axis, which is perpendicular to c, leads to a crystal symmetry reduction from hexagonal to monoclinic. The observed magnitude of the magnetic moment of the Tb ion is 1.5 μ_B, unusually small relative to the free ion and parent compound (TbCo₃B₂) values. These magnetic and crystal properties are discussed and compared with what was previously published for the parent compound.     

Neutron diffraction study of the U(Pd1−xFex)2Ge2 magnetic structure

The neutron diffraction and magnetic susceptibility studies have shown that the magnetic structure of UPd₂Ge₂ changes dramatically even under very low iron doping. Though the general magnetic structure of pure UPd₂Ge₂ and of 1%Fe-doped samples is the same, the temperature intervals of existence of different magnetic phases are different. The values of transition temperatures, where (i) the ‘square’ modulated longitudinal spin-density wave (LSDW) structure with the propagation vector k=(0; 0; ) starts to transform into the sinusoidal modulated LSDW structure and (ii) the commensurate phase transforms into incommensurate one, shift under the 1%Fe doping to the higher temperatures (from 50 to 65 K and from 80 to 90 K, respectively). In the pure and 1%Fe-doped UPd₂Ge₂, the magnetic transition from the commensurate to incommensurate phase is accompanied by the drastic decrease of the propagation vector k_z. In the 2%Fe-doped sample, besides the Néel point of T_N=135 K, we have found two additional characteristic temperatures of 65 and 93 K. Below 65 K, the material has a simple antiferromagnetic (AF) structure with the propagation vector k=(0; 0; 1) and, at 65 K<T<T_N, the magnetic structure is LSDW with sinusoidal modulation. Over almost the total region 65 K<T<T_N, the LSDW magnetic structure is incommensurate. Only at about 93 K, the propagation vector passes the commensurate value of , whereas at 65<T<93 K and at 93 K<T<T_N. We have found that the magnetic susceptibility and the uranium magnetic moment are sensitive to the transition. With increasing iron concentration to x0.15, the simple AF structure with k=(0; 0; 1) develops over all temperature region up to the Néel point. Below T_N, the uranium magnetic moments are always parallel to the tetragonal c-axis.     

Magnetic order of Mn5Si3-type Tb5Sb3 and Tb5Si1.5Sb1.5

Neutron diffraction study has been performed on the Tb₅Sb₃ and Tb₅Si_1.5Sb_1.5 compounds (hexagonal Mn₅Si₃-type, hP16, P6₃/mcm) to understand their magnetic structures. The temperature dependence of neutron diffraction results proves that these intermetallics show a complex magnetic ordering. The Tb₅Sb₃ presents five subsequent changes in magnetic structure at ∼150, 119, 85, 70 and 54 K on cooling: paramagnet→antiferromagnetic flat spiral→ferromagnetic cone→antiferromagnetically canted ferromagnetic cone→canted AF→sine modulated AF. The Tb₅Si_1.5Sb_1.5 shows two subsequent changes in magnetic structure at 123 and 66 K: paramagnet→sine modulated antiferromagnet I→sine modulated antiferromagnet II. The Tb₅Si₃, Tb₅Sb₃ and Tb₅Si_1.5Sb_1.5 have the different magnetic structure in the full temperature range.     

Magnetic properties of R3Co29Si4B10 (R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd and Dy) borides

The crystal structure and magnetic properties of quaternary rare-earth intermetallic borides R₃Co₂₉Si₄B₁₀ with R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd and Dy have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction and magnetization measurements. All compounds crystallize in a tetragonal crystal structure with the space group P4/nmm. Compounds with R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm are ferromagnets, while ferrimagnetic behavior is observed for R=Gd and Dy. The Curie temperatures vary between 149 K and 210 K. The Curie temperatures in R₃Co₂₉Si₄B₁₀ (R=Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy) compounds are roughly proportional to the de Gennes factors.     

Magnetic order in CaMn2Sb2 studied via powder neutron diffraction

This paper reports a neutron powder diffraction study of CaMn₂Sb₂ in the temperature range of 20–300 K. Collinear long-range antiferromagnetic order of manganese ions occurs below 85 K, where a transition is observed in the dc magnetic susceptibility measured with a single crystal. Short-range magnetic order, characterized by a broad diffraction peak corresponding to a d-spacing of approximately 4 Å (2θ≈22°), is also observed above 20 K. The long-range antiferromagnetic order is indexed by the chemical unit cell, indicating a propagation vector k=(0 0 0), with a refined magnetic moment of 3.38 μ_B at 20 K. Two possible magnetic models have been identified, which differ in spin orientation for the two manganese ions with respect to the ab plane. The model with spins oriented at a 25±2° angle relative to the ab plane gives an improved fit compared to the other model in which the spins are constrained to the ab plane. Representational analysis can account for a model involving a c-axis component only by the mixing of two irreducible representations.     

Magnetic and transport properties of single-crystal Yb3Cu4Ge4

The magnetic and transport properties of single-crystal Yb₃Cu₄Ge₄ with the Gd₃Cu₄Ge₄-type orthorhombic structure are presented. Magnetization along the b-axis at 2 K saturates to 2.8_μB/Yb$2.8{\mu }_{\mathrm{B}}/\mathrm{Yb}$ at 3 kOe, while that along the a- and c-axes at 2 K are gradually increasing to the value of 1.5_μB/Yb$1.5{\mu }_{\mathrm{B}}/\mathrm{Yb}$ and 0.39_μB/Yb$0.39{\mu }_{\mathrm{B}}/\mathrm{Yb}$ at 50 kOe, respectively. The electrical resistivity within the ab-plane shows a metallic behavior in contrast to a broad maximum at around 30 K for that along the c-axis. Each resistivity for the principal axis suddenly decreases below 8 K. The specific heat shows a λ-type$\lambda \mathrm{-}\mathrm{type}$ sharp peak at 7.8 K. The electronic specific heat coefficient is estimated to be 29.4 mJ/mol Yb K² by fitting the magnetic part of the specific heat below 3 K. The magnetic entropy released up to T_C is 68% of that of R ln 2, expected for the doublet ground state. It is revealed that Yb₃Cu₄Ge₄ is categorized to a weak heavy-fermion system showing a ferromagnetic transition at 7.8 K with uniaxial anisotropy along the b-axis.     

Electronic structure of Sr2FeMoO6

We have used electron spectroscopies to investigate the electronic structure of the double perovskite Sr₂FeMoO₆. The valence-band photoemission spectra present a well-defined cut-off at the Fermi level, indicative of the metallic character of the material. The O 1s X-ray absorption spectrum presents three peaks, which are in good correspondence with the main structures in the unoccupied density-of-states of DF-LDA calculations. The electron energy-loss spectra present two structures which are also interpreted in terms of transitions between the bands obtained in the DF-LDA calculations.     

Magnetic properties of RPd5Al2 (R=Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd)

Polycrystalline samples of a new rare-earth series RPd₅Al₂ crystallizing in the tetragonal ZrNi₂Al₅-type structure have been prepared. Their physical properties by electrical resistivity ρ, magnetic susceptibility χ, magnetization M and specific heat C_p measurements are reported. The ingots are composed of elongated grains preferentially aligned in the c direction; therefore, measurements were conducted parallel and perpendicular to the grains. Antiferromagnetic ordering appears in R=Ce, Nd, Gd, and Sm at low temperatures. CePd₅Al₂ has two AFM transitions at 4.1 and 2.9 K and ρ(T) indicates a Kondo metal behavior with large anisotropy. In PrPd₅Al₂ no magnetic transition was observed down to 0.4 K. The C_p(T) shows a broad peak around 13 K due to the CEF effect, suggesting a non-magnetic singlet ground state. In NdPd₅Al₂, χ(T) shows anisotropy and the C_p(T) shows a sharp peak at 1.2 K. The magnetic entropy at 3 K is very close to Rln2, indicating a Kramers doublet ground state. In SmPd₅Al₂, C_p(T) shows a magnetic transition at 1.7 K. C_p(T) for GdPd₅Al₂ shows a peak at 6 K, followed by a broad anomaly around 3 K. Within this series, T_N's for CePd₅Al₂ and NdPd₅Al₂ clearly deviate from the relation predicted by de Gennes scaling, which is ascribed to the CEF effect.     

Magnetic properties of Y2Fe15Cr2 single crystal

A Y₂Fe₁₅Cr₂ single crystal with the Th₂Ni₁₇-type structure has been prepared by the Czochralski method and investigated by means of Laue back-reflection, metallographic observation, X-ray diffraction, the singular point detection technique and magnetic measurements. A magnetohistory effect has been observed at a low temperature. Magnetization curves have been measured along the easy and hard directions in fields up to 6.5 T. The saturation magnetization and magnetocrystalline anisotropy field decrease with increasing temperature. The experimental magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant is in good agreement with the calculation results on first approximation.     

The structure of AgI-Ag2O-V2O5 glasses

Structures of 10AgI-3Ag₂O-2V₂O₅, 3AgI-3Ag₂O---2V₂O₅ and 2AgI---2Ag₂O-V₂O₅ glasses have been investigated by neutron diffraction experiments. The characteristic features of observed structure factors S(Q) in 10AgI-3Ag₂O-2V₂O₅ glass is similar to those of other superionic conducting glasses and molten AgI. From the standpoint of the pair distribution functions, it is clarified that the Ag-I and I-I correlation strength and Ag---Ag correlation length increase with increasing AgI concentration. Observed results suggest that the local AgI structure accompanied by the re-arrangement of silver ions is formed with highly doped iodide ions.     

Multi-magnetic phases in Fe1−xNixTa2O6

X-ray, neutron diffraction and magnetic susceptibility are reported for Fe_xNi_1−xTa₂O₆ mixed oxides. X-ray refinement indicates homogeneous samples for all the reported concentrations. The neutron-diffraction measurements reveal magnetic structures with double propagation vectors. This system exhibits at least two bicritical points at about x=0.15 and 0.60. For these concentrations, at low temperatures, the system shows the coexistence of two magnetic structures. This bicritical behaviour is interpreted as induced by competition between the different magnetic structures.