An example of complexity in magnetism: Complex magnetic structures in Rare-Earth intermetallics

Abstract

We present and compare the magnetic structures of limit compounds, between the ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism in the pseudobinary compounds of type RNi/Pt/Cu, where R = Tb, Gd, Nd or Ce, appearing when we substitute the transition metal. All of them are examples of complex magnetic structures as the result of different magnetic interactions, inhomogeneities and disorder. This overview provides us a fruitful field of discussion considering the competition of magnetic interactions in a context of disorder. We discuss the similarities and differences between the structures and we conclude about the importance of the disorder in the existence of several phenomena in magnetism, which could lead to new insights in the stability of magnetic phases, as clusters glass or short range interactions in the mesoscopic scale.

Keywords

• magnetic structures
• neutron diffraction
• magnetic interactions