A study of magnetic moments of CeRh3B2 by X-ray magnetic diffraction experiments

Abstract

X-ray magnetic diffraction experiments of a ferromagnetic rare-earth compound CeRh3B2 have been performed, and the spin and orbital magnetic form factors have been measured. Density distributions of the spin and orbital magnetic moments in real space have been obtained by using Maximum Entropy Method. Low peaks at Rh sites as well as high peaks at Ce sites are observed in these distribution maps. We have estimated the spin and orbital magnetic moments at the Ce and Rh sites in the distribution maps, and have obtained small but nonnegligible spin and orbital magnetic moments of Rh. This is probably the first experimental evidence showing existence of the spin and orbital moments of Rh in this compound.