Magnetic structure and quadrupolar order parameter driven by geometrical frustration effect in NdB

Yamauchi, Hiroki   ; Metoki, Naoto   ; Watanuki, Ryuta*; Suzuki, Kazuya*; Fukazawa, Hiroshi; Chi, S.*; Fernandez-Baca, J. A.*

Neutron diffraction experiments have been carried out to characterize the magnetic structures and order parameters in an intermediate phase of NdB showing the successive phase transitions at K, K, and K. The observed patterns in phase II () are successfully explained by postulating a planar structure with static magnetic moments in the tetragonal -plane. We have found that the magnetic structure in phase II can be uniquely determined to be a linear combination of noncolinear "all-in/all-out"-type and "vortex"-type antiferromagnetic structures. We propose that the quadrupolar interaction holds the key to stabilizing the noncollinear magnetic structure and quadrupolar order. Here, the frustration in the Shastry - Sutherland lattice would play an essential role in suppressing the dominance of the magnetic interaction.