Magnetic Structures of HoCoO3 and TbCoO3

Abstract The magnetic behavior of HoCoO3 and TbCoO3 has been studied from magnetic measurements and neutron diffraction experiments performed on polycrystalline samples. The magnetic measurements indicate that the Co3+ ions exhibit a low‐spin electronic configuration t2g6eg0 with S = 0 below room temperature. The neutron diffraction data show that HoCoO3 and TbCoO3 order with an antiferromagnetic structure below TN = 3 and 3.6 K, respectively. The magnetic structure for HoCoO3 and TbCoO3 are given by the basis vectors (Ax,0,Cz) and (Cx,0,Az), respectively. Therefore, the magnetic moments are in the (010) plane. At T = 1.5 K, the ordered magnetic moments of Ho3+ and Tb3+ ions are 6.48(4) and 7.86(4) μB, respectively.