Resonant Magnetic X-ray Diffraction Study on the Triangular Lattice Antiferromagnet GdPd2Al3

TL;DR

This study used resonant magnetic x-ray diffraction to investigate the magnetic structures of GdPd2Al3, revealing a transition from collinear to incommensurate helical order with anisotropic domain distribution.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into the magnetic ordering and domain behavior of GdPd2Al3, highlighting the presence of a long incommensurate helical ground state.

Findings

Initial collinear c-axis order at TN1

In-plane order at TN2

Ground state is a long incommensurate helical structure

Abstract

Resonant magnetic x-ray diffraction experiments were carried out on the stacked triangular lattice antiferromagnet GdPd2Al3. The experiments revealed an expected initial collinear c-axis order at TN1 followed by an additional in-plane order at TN2, while at the same time we found that the ground state is a helically ordered state of a very long incommensurate period of approximately 700A. The distribution of K-domains was highly anisotropic, and the domain with the modulation vector normal to the surface of the crystal was ascendant. Low-field magnetization is discussed on the basis of the observed incommensurate magnetic structure.