Magnetic Structure of HoZn2

Neutron powder diffraction measurements reveal that HoZn2, having the body-centered orthorhombic crystal structure (CeCu2-type), becomes an antiferromagnet below the Néel temperature of 13.5°K. The moment alignment is represented by the composite of two sinusoidal transverse waves both polarized in the b axis direction and propagating along the c axis but with the phase difference of 60.7 ± 1.2°. The propagation wavelength and amplitude at 4.2°K are, respectively, 2.27 in units of c and 9.4 ± 0.1 Bohr magnetons. Below 4°K, there are indications of the onset of another magnetic transition.