Neutron diffraction studies of pseudoternary TbRu2−xPdxSi2

Abstract The TbRu 2− x Pd x Si 2 series of solid solutions ( x  = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5 and 1.75) was studied by neutron powder diffraction. They crystallize in the body-centered tetragonal ThCr 2 Si 2 -type structure. Analysis of the magnetic component of the neutron diffraction patterns shows the change of the magnetic structure from a sine-modulated LSW II-type for x  ≤ 1.0 to a short-range magnetic order for x  = 1.5 and a sine-modulated LSW IV-type for x  = 1.75. In the LSW II-type structure the Tb-moments are parallel to the c -axis while for the LSW IV-type they are parallel to the a -axis. With increasing x a sharp decrease in the Neel temperature is observed. For 0.75 ≤  x