Crystal electric field excitations in the quasicrystal approximantTbCd6studied by inelastic neutron scattering

Abstract

We have performed inelastic neutron scattering measurements on powder samples of the quasicrystal approximant, ${\mathrm{TbCd}}_{6}$, grown using isotopically enriched $^{112}\mathrm{Cd}$. Both quasielastic scattering and distinct inelastic excitations were observed below 3 meV. The intensity of the quasielastic scattering measured in the paramagnetic phase diverges as ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}\ensuremath{\sim}22$ K is approached from above. The inelastic excitations, and their evolution with temperature, are well characterized by the leading term, ${B}_{2}^{0}{O}_{2}^{0}$, of the crystal electric field (CEF) level scheme for local pentagonal symmetry for the rare-earth ions [S. Jazbec et al., Phys. Rev. B 93, 054208 (2016)] indicating that the Tb moment is directed primarily along the unique local pseudofivefold axis of the Tsai-type clusters. We also find good agreement between the inverse susceptibility determined from magnetization measurements using a magnetically diluted ${\mathrm{Tb}}_{0.05}{\mathrm{Y}}_{0.95}{\mathrm{Cd}}_{6}$ sample and that calculated using the CEF level scheme determined from the neutron measurements.