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Direct Observation of Spontaneous Weak-Ferromagnetism in the Superconductor ErNi2B2C Hit : 574

S. M. Choi, J. W. Lynn, D. Lopez, P. L. Gammel, P. C. Canfield and S. L. Bud'ko

Vol. 87, No. 107001, (2001)

 http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.107001

Abstract

Neutron measurements show that superconducting ErNi2B2C (T(C) = 11 K) develops antiferromagnetic spin density wave magnetic order (T(N) = 6 K), which squares up with decreasing temperature yielding a series of higher-order magnetic Bragg peaks with odd harmonics. Below T(WFM) = 2.3 K where magnetization indicates a net moment develops, even-order Bragg peaks develop which low field (approximately 3 Oe) polarized beam measurements show are magnetic in origin. The data directly demonstrate the existence of a net magnetization with a periodicity of 20a, confirming the microscopic coexistence of spontaneous weak ferromagnetism with superconductivity.