Antiferromagnetic order in CaK(Fe1–xNix)4As4 and its interplay with superconductivity

The magnetic order in CaK(Fe_1–xNi_x)₄As₄ (1144) single crystals (x = 0.051 and 0.033) has been studied by neutron diffraction. We observe magnetic Bragg peaks associated with the same propagation vectors as found for the collinear stripe antiferromagnetic (AFM) order in the related BaFe₂As₂ (122) compound. The AFM state in 1144 preserves tetragonal symmetry and only a commensurate, noncollinear structure with a hedgehog spin-vortex crystal (SVC) arrangement in the Fe plane and simple AFM stacking along the c direction is consistent with our observations. The SVC order is promoted by the reduced symmetry in the FeAs layer in the 1144 structure. The long-range SVC order coexists with superconductivity, however, similar to the doped 122 compounds, the ordered magnetic moment is gradually suppressed with the developing superconducting order parameter. Lastly, this supports the notion that both collinear and noncollinear magnetism and superconductivity are competing for the same electrons coupled by Fermi surface nesting in iron arsenide superconductors.