Magnetic order in CePdAl single crystal: Effect of magnetic field

Abstract Our neutron diffraction experiments on CePdAl single crystal down to 0.36 K do not reveal any additional magnetic reflections except those which apper below T N =2.78 (4) K and can be indexed with the propagation vector q =(0.5 0  τ ). The component τ decreases with lowering temperature and stays constant below 1.9 K. Application of field up to 5.5 T directed along the easy magnetization c -axis shows that geometrical magnetic frustration present in zero field can be lifted. The magnetization process is hysteretic and in agreement with bulk measurements. The observed three field-induced transitions are complicated with signs of domain re-population. The zero-field magnetic structure established after application of field has slightly different magnetic periodicity with respect to the zero-field cooled state.