Antiferromagnetic order and spin glass behavior in Dy2CuIn3

Abstract The magnetic properties of the intermetallic compound Dy 2 CuIn 3 have been investigated. Ac and dc-susceptibility measurements indicate an onset of antiferromagnetic ordering at T N =19.5 K and an additional frequency dependent transition at T ds ∼9 K. Neutron diffraction studies confirm the ordered transition at 19.5±1 K. The magnetic unit cell can be described by the propagation vector k =( 0.25,0.25,0 ) with the magnetic moment μ =2.63(4) μ B / Dy 3+ parallel to the c -axis. Nevertheless, neutron diffraction reveals no additional magnetic phase transition around or below 9 K, which suggests that, at lower temperatures, a spin glass state may be formed in coexistence with the antiferromagnetic mode as a result of frustration and the antagonism between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions.