Split of the magnetic and crystallographic states in Fe$_{1-x}$Rh$_{x}$Ge

Abstract

We report on a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of Fe$_{1-x}$Rh$_{x}$Ge compounds, within the entire concentration range $x \in \left[0.0 - 1.0\right]$, using X-Ray diffraction, small-angle neutron scattering, magnetometry and theoretical calculations. While FeGe and RhGe are single phase helimagnet and unconventional superconductor, respectively, an internal splitting of the crystallographic and magnetic states is found for intermediate compositions $x \in \left[0.2 - 0.9\right]$. A theoretical analysis of the stability of the two detected phases, together with the experimental data, indicate that this splitting preserves a common space group and occurs within single crystallites. Despite their apparent similarity, these two phases however display different magnetic structures, with distinct ferro- and helimagnetic character.