Magnetic properties and magnetic structure of the Mn5Si3-type Tb5Si3 compound

Neutron diffraction and magnetization measurements have been performed on the Tb₅Si₃ compound (hexagonal Mn₅Si₃-type, hP16, P6₃/mcm) to understand its magnetic structure and magnetic properties. The temperature-dependent neutron diffraction results prove that this intermetallic phase shows a complex flat spiral magnetic ordering, presenting three subsequent changes in magnetization at on cooling. However, the magnetization data depict two transitions at 72 K (T_N1) and 55 K (T_N2). The extended temperature range between and over which the neutron diffraction patterns slowly evolve might correspond to the high-temperature antiferromagnetic transition at T_N1 and low-temperature antiferromagnetic transition at T_N2 of the magnetic data. Between Tb₅Si₃ shows a flat spiral antiferromagnetic ordering with a propagation vector K₁ = [0,0, ±1/4]; then, between the flat spiral type ordering is conserved, but by two coexisting propagation vectors K₁ = [0,0, ±1/4] and K₂ = [0,0, ±0.4644(3)]. The terbium magnetic moments arrange in the XY(ab) plane of the unit cell. Below the magnetic component with K₁ = [0,0, ±1/4] vanishes and magnetic structure of Tb₅Si₃ is a flat spiral with K₂ = [0,0, ±0.4644(3)], only. Low field magnetization measurements confirm the occurrence of complex, multiple magnetic transitions. The field dependence of the magnetization indicates a metamagnetic transition at a critical field of 3 T.