Magnetic order inNd2PdSi3investigated using neutron scattering and muon spin relaxation

Rare-earth intermetallics can exhibit complex magnetic phases, driven by competing interactions. Here, the authors use neutron scattering and muon-spin relaxation to show that Nd${}₂$PdSi${}₃$ is one such example, where there are both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic components to the magnetism and they coexist microscopically across the whole sample volume. The intensity of the antiferromagnetic Bragg peaks features an unusual temperature dependence, reaching a maximum at intermediate temperatures, while at low temperature the system approaches uniform ferromagnetism. These results may help understand the skyrmion phase very recently observed in isostructural Gd${}₂$PdSi${}₃$.