Abstract
In order to understand the nature of magnetic transitions in intermetallic TbNi5 compound, we have performed high resolution powder and single crystal neutron diffraction studies. Powder diffraction patterns can be described by a superposition of a ferromagnet (k1 = 0) and a transverse spin wave (k2 ≈ 2 π / c (0, 0, 0.018)). The single crystal experiments reveal two spontaneous magnetic transitions: one is a second-order transition at 24 K from a paramagnetic state to an incommensurate structure and another a first-order transition at 10 K from the incommensurate structure to a lock-in structure. At the low-temperature transition a large (∼ 15 K) thermal hysteresis is observed in the temperature dependence of the intensity of magnetic peaks. External magnetic fields destroy the modulated structure and induce a ferromagnetic state, which remains stable even after magnetic fields are switched off.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 349-352 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Physica B: Physics of Condensed Matter |
Volume | 385-386 I |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 27 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |
Funding
We acknowledge the financial supports by Center for Strongly Correlated Materials Research and the BAERI program of Ministry of Science and Technology. One of us (A.N. Pirogov) also acknowledges Brain Korea 21 Program and Hahn-Meitner Institute for financial support.
Keywords
- Incommensurate magnetic structure
- Phase transition
- TbNi