A generic phase diagram for R2PdSi3 (R = heavy rare earth)?

Abstract

The magnetic phase diagrams of hexagonal R2PdSi3 compounds have been found to feature an apparent similar phase when the field is applied along the respective magnetic easy axes. To elucidate this, neutron diffraction on single crystalline Tb2PdSi3 and Ho 2PdSi3 in magnetic fields was performed. These two compounds have different magnetic structures in zero field. In Tb 2PdSi3 the propagation vector is parallel to the hexagonal axis while in Ho2PdSi3 the propagation is in the basal plane. In both compounds the magnetic moment direction is perpendicular to the propagation vector. The application of a magnetic field along the respective easy axes destroys the zero field magnetic structure and leads to a ferrimagnetic phase with magnetic intensity on the same positions for both compounds. These findings and their connections to the crystallographic (super-)structure are presented and discussed. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.