Magnetic structure of RPdSn (R=Tb, Ho) single crystal compounds under strong magnetic field

Rare earth compounds RTX, where R stands for rare earth elements, T for Ni, Pd or Rh, and X for Sn or Ge, crystallize to a rhombic ε-TiNiSi structure. Only rare earth elements R contribute to magnetic properties since T and X atoms are nonmagnetic. The competition between RKKY indirect interaction and large magnetic anisotropy generates many complicated magnetic phases. At a low temperature phase, complicated magnetisms such as meta-magnetism were observed in magnetization curves with many steps. In previous experiments dealing with RPdSn where R means Tb or Ho, some characteristics of magnetic properties of these compounds were deduced from magnetization measurements and neutron diffraction without external magnetic field. In this report, the change of magnetic scattering of neutron diffraction was studied under external magnetic fields in order to reveal the mechanism of the phase transformations of the compounds. The difference between TbPdSn and HoPdSn compounds was observed in magnetic field dependence of the wave vectors of the magnetic scattering. Two independent wave vectors in magnetic scattering existed in HoPdSn compound. (Y. Kazumata)