The magnetic properties of HoNiBC: Absence of superconductivity and helical ground-state

The magnetic and transport properties of the quaternary intermetallic HoNiBC compound (space group P4/nmm, a = 3.563(1) A ̊ , c = 7.546(1) A ̊ ) were studied for 1.2 K ⩽ T ⩽ 300 K and H ⩽ 80 kOe. The compound orders antiferromagnetically at 9.8(3) K and, in the ordered state, the Ho moment saturates to 8.5(1) μ B. In contrast with the structurally-related reentrant superconductor HoNi 2B 2C, superconductivity is not found nor are there indications of a helical ground-state in the whole temperature range. These features are attributed, respectively, to the positioning of the Fermi level at a DOS minimum and the presence of the HoC double layers that inhibits the establishment of a helical spin arrangement.