Complex magnetic order in the kagome ferromagnet Pr3Ru4Al12
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Contributors
Abstract
In the hexagonal crystal structure of Pr3Ru4Al12, the Pr atoms form a distorted kagome lattice, and their magnetic moments, are subject to competing exchange and anisotropy interactions. We performed magnetization, magnetic-susceptibility, specific-heat, electrical-resistivity, and neutron-scattering measurements. Pr3Ru4Al12 is a uniaxial ferromagnet with TC=39 K that displays a collinear magnetic structure (in the high-temperature range of the magnetically ordered state) for which the only crystallographic position of Pr is split into two sites carrying different magnetic moments. A spin-reorientation phase transition is found at 7 K. Below this temperature, part of the Pr moments rotate towards the basal plane, resulting in a noncollinear magnetic state with a lower magnetic symmetry. We argue that unequal RKKY exchange interactions competing with the crystal electric field lead to a moment instability and qualitatively explain the observed magnetic phases in Pr3Ru4Al12.
Details
Original language | English |
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Article number | 014431 |
Journal | Physical Review B |
Volume | 97 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 24 Jan 2018 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |