Magnetic structure of TbMnO3 by neutron diffraction -: art. no. 012401

Magnetic ordering in TbMnO3 was revisited by a neutron diffraction study. In addition to the previously reported A-type and G-type modulated structures with a propagation vector (0,q(Mn),0), we found C-type and F-type orderings of the Mn moments. All the components appear below T-N(Mn)=46 K, and the G-, C-, and F-type components are enhanced below T-lock=28 K, where q(Mn) ordering locks at its low temperature value. The locking of the propagation vector also yields the squaring up of the spin arrangement. The magnetic moments of Tb ions show a quasi-long-range ordering below T-N(Tb)=7 K. It drastically promotes the development of the G-, C-, and F-type components while suppressing the A-type components.