Magnetic structure of the Mn5Si3-type Er5Si3 compound

Neutron diffraction study has been performed on the Er5Si3 compound (hexagonal Mn5Si3-type, hP16, P63/mcm) to understand its magnetic structure. The temperature dependent neutron diffraction results prove that this compound shows a complex antiferromagnetic ordering with sine modulated magnetic moments collinear to the c axis, presenting three subsequent changes in magnetization at ∼29 K, 13 K and 10 K on cooling. The high-temperature magnetic component of Er5Si3 (C3v magnetic point group, P31m magnetic space group, K1 = [0, 0, ±0.277(2)]) exists from 29 K to 10 K, whereas low-temperature magnetic component (symmetry C1v magnetic point group, Pm magnetic space group, K2 = [0, ±1/4, 0]) exists from 13 K down to 1.5 K. The low-temperature and high-temperature magnetic components coexist between 13 K and 10 K.