Incommensurate and commensurate magnetic long-range order in metallic REPd₃ compounds of rare earths (RE=Nd, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm, Yb)

Compared to previous bulk magnetic measurements unusual magnetic ordering phenomena were detected by systematic neutron scattering experiments performed in the temperature range of 7 mK≦T≦300 K on the series of cubic metallic compounds REPd3 of the rare earths RE=Nd, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm and Yb. Except for ErPd3 withT N =3 K the observed critical temperatures are compatible with the de Gennes scaling.

The complexity of long-range magnetic ordering increases with decreasing 4f n occupancy, ranging from ferro- or ferrimagnetism in YbPd3 and DyPd3 via commensurate antiferromagnetic ordering in ErPd3 and TmPd3 [k=(1/2, 1/2, 0)] to incommensurate antiferromagnetic ordering of modulated type in TbPd3 and NdPd3.

Both RKKY interactions, crystalline electric field, hybridization with 4d states of Pd as well as nuclear spin polarization in the case of RE=Nd appear to be of importance for the magnetic properties of REPd3 systems.