The magnetic structure of CeAl2 is a non-chiral spiral

E. M. Forgan*, B. D. Rainford, S. L. Lee, J. S. Abell, Y. Bi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The previously accepted spatially modulated magnetic structure of CeAl 2 is shown to be incorrect. Neutron diffraction measurements in an applied magnetic field imply that the zero-field magnetic structure is spiral: however, the moments on the two Ce sublattices rotate in opposite senses. In the author's model, the magnitude of the Ce ordered moment varies little from site to site; a non-magnetic ground state for the Ce3+ ion is no longer required, and the extreme weakness of the harmonics is explained.

Original languageEnglish
Article number026
Pages (from-to)10211-10216
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Physics: Condensed Matter
Volume2
Issue number50
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1990

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