Magnetic structure and component-separated transitions of HoNiSi_3

HoNiSi_3 is an intermetallic compound characterized by two successive antiferromagnetic transitions at T_N1 = 6.3 K and T_N2 = 10.4 K. Here, its zero-field microscopic magnetic structure is inferred from resonant x-ray magnetic diffraction experiments on a single crystalline sample that complement previous bulk magnetic susceptibility data. For T < T_N2, the primitive magnetic unit cell matches the chemical cell. The magnetic structure features ferromagnetic ac planes stacked in an antiferromagnetic ↑↓↑↓ pattern. For T_N1 < T < T_N2, the ordered magnetic moment points along a⃗, and for T < T_N1 a component along c⃗ also orders. A symmetry analysis indicates that the magnetic structure for TMore