Evolution with applied field of the magnetic structure of TbNiAl4

Abstract

Neutron powder diffraction data of TbNiAl4 has been re-examined using a representational analysis, allowing a new model of the magnetic structure to be deduced. The basis vectors obtained describe an ‘elliptical helix’ type structure in which the moments rotate in the ab-plane as one moves along the c-axis. This new model has been used to simulate the expected result of a Low Temperature Nuclear Orientation (LTNO) experiment involving 299 keV gamma-ray emission from the 160Dy daughter of aligned 160Tb nuclei. Results of the simulation along the a-axis appear to partly match currently existing experimental data, with good agreement in the magnitude of lost anisotropy. © 2014, Springer International Publishing.