Neutron powder diffraction determination of the magnetic structure of Nd_2Al

摘要

We have determined the magnetic structure of Nd_2Al by neutron powder diffraction. This orthorhombic intermetallic compound orders ferromagnetically below 36 K with the Nd moments aligned along the b-axis. Even at 1.7 K, the larger of the two Nd moments is only 2.3(2) μb, about 70% of the 'free-ion' value of 3.27 μb. This reduction is a consequence of the substantial crystal-field effects at the Nd~(3+) sites.