The antiphase domain magnetic structure of the DyGe3 compound

The magnetic properties of the novel compound DyGe3 have been studied by neutron diffraction and magnetic measurements. DyGe3 (orthorhombic Cmcm, Z = 4) orders antiferromagnetically at T-N = 24 K. The superstructure lines observed in the neutron powder data require a sixfold cell enlargement of the primitive chemical cell upon magnetic ordering (2a, (a + b)/2, 3c) and a twofold splitting of the atomic positions. The magnetic space group is P(a)2(1)/m. The two Dy sublattices have a uniaxial moment arrangement along c and are coupled antiferromagnetically with the same ordered moment values 8.1 mu(B) below 8 K. Their different temperature dependencies are discussed in terms of a Fourier analysis of the observed data over the whole magnetically ordered region.