Magnetic quasicrystals: What can we expect to see in their neutron diffraction data?

TL;DR

This paper uses magnetic symmetry theory to predict magnetic diffraction patterns in quasicrystals, indicating the potential for quasiperiodic magnetic order and guiding experimental searches for antiferromagnetic quasicrystals.

Contribution

It applies magnetic symmetry analysis to quasicrystals, showing no fundamental symmetry restrictions against long-range magnetic order and suggesting experimental directions.

Findings

Magnetic peaks are compatible with quasiperiodic order.

No symmetry constraints prevent magnetic order in quasicrystals.

Guidelines for detecting simple antiferromagnetic quasicrystals.

Abstract

The theory of magnetic symmetry in quasicrystals is used to characterize the nature of magnetic peaks, expected in elastic neutron diffraction experiments. It is established that there is no symmetry-based argument which forbids the existence of quasiperiodic long-range magnetic order. Suggestions are offered as to where one should look for the simplest kinds of antiferromagnetic quasicrystals.