Neutron diffraction studies of pseudoternary TbRu2−xPdxSi2

The TbRu2−xPdxSi2 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 ThCr2Si2-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 Néel temperature is observed. For 0.75 ≤ x < 1.0 two magnetic phases coexist.