Neutron diffraction study of the magnetic order in NdMn2Ge 1.6Si0.4

Abstract

Here we report a detailed investigation of NdMn2Ge 1.6Si0.4; this forms part of our investigation of the magnetic order across the NdMn2Ge2-xSix (x = 0-2.0) series by magnetometry, x-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction over the temperature range 6-465 K. On decreasing the temperature from 465 K, NdMn2Ge1.6Si0.4 exhibits four magnetic transitions: (i) from paramagnetism to intralayer antiferromagnetism AFl at TNIntra ∼ 430 K; (ii) AFl to canted ferromagnetism Fmc at TCInter ∼ 330 K; (iii) Fmc to conical magnetic ordering of the Mn sublattice Fmi at Tcc ∼ 178 K and (iv) Fmi(Mn) to Fmi(Mn)+F(Nd) at TCNd ∼ 72 K.