Observation of Quasimagnetic Structures in Rare-Earth-Based Icosahedral Quasicrystals

The first observation of long-range quasiperiodic antiferromagnetic structures in quasicrystals, namely the heavy rare-earth-based icosahedral R₈Mg₄₂Zn₅₀ compounds ( R0ex0ex=0ex0exTb, Dy, Ho, Er), is reported. This quasimagnetic ordering is characterized by the propagation vector Q0ex0ex=0ex0ex(1/4,0,0,0,0,0) in the six-dimensional notation. Simultaneously, broad magnetic peaks appear in the neutron diffraction patterns, characteristic of a short-range ordering. The coexistence of two different magnetic correlation lengths suggests the presence of two types of crystallographic sites for the rare-earth atoms.