Crystallographic and magnetic structure of RbFeCl3·2D2O and CsFeCl3·2D2O

Abstract
The crystallographic and magnetic structure of both RbFeCl3·2D2O and CsFeCl3·2D2O have been determined from elastic-neutron-scattering experiments and nuclear magnetic resonance. Both compounds are orthorombic space group Pcca, with lattice constants, at T=4.2 K, a=8.8760(6) Å, b=6.8724(4) Å, c=11.1807(12) Å for RbFeCl3·2D2O and a=8.9466(6) Å, b=7.1247(4) Å, c=11.3248(10) Å for CsFeCl3·2D2O. The magnetic array below the ordering temperature can be described by a compensated four-sublattice system. The apparent chains in the structure posses a ferromagnetic moment in the c direction, giving rise to metamagnetic phase transitions at relatively low field strengths.