Crystal and magnetic structure of antiferromagnetic Mn$_{2}$PtPd

Abstract

We have investigated the crystal and magnetic structure of Mn${}_{2}$PtPd alloy using powder x-ray and neutron diffraction experiments. This compound is believed to belong to the Heusler family having crystal symmetry $\mathit{I}$4/$\mathit{mmm}$ (TiAl${}_{3}$-type). However, in this work we found that the Pd and Pt atoms are disordered and thus Mn${}_{2}$PtPd crystallizes in the $\mathit{L}$1${}_{0}$ structure having $\mathit{P}$4/$\mathit{mmm}$ symmetry (CuAu-I type) like MnPt and MnPd binary alloys. The lattice constants are $\mathit{a}$ = 2.86 \r{A} and $\mathit{c}$ = 3.62 \r{A} at room temperature. Mn${}_{2}$PtPd has a collinear antiferromagnetic spin structure below the N\'{e}el temperature $\mathit{T}$${}_{N}$ = 866 K, where Mn moments of $\mathrm{\sim}$4 $\mu$${}_{B}$ lie in the $\mathit{ab}$-plane. We observed a strong change in the lattice parameters near $\mathit{T}$${}_{N}$. The sample exhibits metallic behaviour, where electrical resistivity and carrier concentration are of the order of 10${}^{-5}$ $\Omega$ cm and 10${}^{21}$ cm${}^{-3}$, respectively.