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Incommensurate magnetic order in the heavy fermion superconductor UNi[sub 2]Al[sub 3]

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters; (United States)
; ; ;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1 (Canada)
  2. AECL Research, Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario K0J 1J0 (Canada)
  3. Department of Physics, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973 (United States)
Neutron scattering measurements show UNi[sub 2]Al[sub 3] to be unique among heavy fermion superconductors in that below [ital T][sub [ital N]][similar to]5.2 K it displays long range magnetic order which is incommensurate with its chemical lattice. The ordering wave vector is (1/2[plus minus][delta], 0, 1/2) where [delta]=0.110[plus minus]0.003. The measured superlattice intensities are well described by the presence of a longitudinal spin density wave within the hexagonal basal plane, polarized along [ital a][sup *]. The magnitude of the maximum ordered moment is found to be very small; [mu][sub ord]=(0.24[plus minus]0.10)[mu][sub [ital B]].
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
OSTI ID:
5258969
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 72:1; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English