Magnetic and neutron diffraction study on the ordered perovskite Sr2HoRuO6

Magnetic properties of an ordered perovskite compound Sr2HoRuO6 have been r eported. Powder neutron diffraction measurements at 10 K, 25 K and room tem perature were performed to investigate the crystal and magnetic structures of Sr2HoRuO6. As a result of the refinement of the data collected at room t emperature, it was found that the crystal structure of this compound is a d istorted perovskite [a = 5.7710(3) Angstrom, b = 5.7801(3) Angstrom, c = 8. 1640(4) Angstrom and beta = 90.200(3)degrees] with space group P2(1)/n and a 1:1 ordered arrangement of Ru5+ and Ho3+ over the six-coordinate B sites. Data collected at 10 and 25 K show that Sr2HoRuO6 has a long range antifer romagnetic ordering involving both Ru5+ and Ho3+. The direction of the magn etic moments is along the c-axis. Each of these orders in a type I arrangem ent and these magnetic moments are antiparallel in the ab-plane with each o ther. Magnetic susceptibility measurements from 5 to 300 K showed the exist ence of a magnetic transition at 36 K and divergence between zero-field and field cooled conditions below this temperature. The field-dependence of th e magnetization was measured and a small magnetic hysteresis loop was found below the divergence temperature indicating the existence of a weak ferrom agnetic moment associated with the antiferromagnetism.