Antiferromagnetic rare-earth ordering in the intermetallic compounds R2Pd2In (R = Pr, Nd)

The intermetallic compounds R2Pd2In of the light rare earths R = Pr, Nd were investigated by means of powder neutron diffraction in the temperature range from 1.6 K to 15 K. The chemical structure is of Mo2FeB2 type according to the space group P4/mbm. Antiferromagnetic rare-earth ordering of modulated type corresponding to k = [0, 0, 1/2] and [1/4, 1/4, 0] was established below the Neel temperatures T-N = 5 K and 8 K for R = Pr and Nd, respectively, in contrast to k approximate to [0.22, 0, 0] and k = [0, 0, 0] of the antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic, nonstoichiomctric Ce2Pd2In systems.