Interplay between structural and magnetic properties of Lu_2 Fe_(17) at high pressure

摘要

A crystal structure of Lu_2Fe_(17) was studied by means of neutron powder diffraction method in the pressure range up to 1.65 GPa and ambient temperature. Modification of the magnetic properties corresponding to the pressure-induced change of the crystal structure of Lu_2Fe_(17) is analysed on the basis of local moment model in the mean field approximation. The experimentally observed suppression of FM state and stabilization of the non-collinear AFM state under high pressure in Lu_2Fe_(17) can be explained qualitatively from model calculations. FM and non-collinear AFM states in Lu_2Fe_(17) are found to be nearly degenerate at ambient pressure with the estimated difference between the total energy minima of ΔE = 2.73 mRyd and the application of high pressure removes this degeneracy in the favor of non-collinear AFM state.