Crystal Structure of the Caged Magnetic Compound DyFe2Zn20 at Low Temperature Magnetic Ordering State

We have carried out X-ray powder diffraction and thermal expansion measurements of the caged magnetic compound DyFe2Zn20. Even though a strong magnetic anisotropy exists in the magnetization and magnetic susceptibility due to strong exchange interaction between Fe and Dy, almost all X-ray powder diffraction peaks at 14K correspond to Bragg reflections of the cubic structural models not only at room temperature paramagnetic state but also at low temperature magnetic ordering state. Although the temperature change of the lattice constant is isotropic, an anomalous behavior was observed in the thermal expansion coefficient around 15K, while the anomaly around TC = 53K is not clear. The results indicate that the volume change is not caused by the ferromagnetic interaction between Fe and Dy but by the exchange interaction between two Dy ions.