Structural and magnetic properties of the Yb₂Pd₂(In_1−xSn_x) system: a synchrotron x-ray and neutron powder diffraction investigation

The structural properties of the Yb₂Pd₂(In_1−xSn_x) system were investigated at room temperature by synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction. All the inspected compositions (x  =  0.0, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 0.9) crystallize in the tetragonal space group P4/mbm; the cell parameters exhibit a non-linear dependence on composition, whereas cell volume changes more regularly, with a minimum at x  =  0.8.

Samples with Sn content x  =  0.5, 0.6, 0.9 were also analysed by neutron diffraction down to 0.5 K. No evidence for a structural transition can be detected at low temperature, whereas an antiferromagnetic ordering is observed, characterized by a propagation vectors k  =  (0,0,½). Magnetic moments order in the tetragonal ab-plane and the magnetic structure belongs to the Shubnikov magnetic space group P4/mbm. (paper)