Magnetic and neutron diffraction studies of the ordered perovskite Ba2NdRuO6

The magnetic properties of the ordered perovskite compound Ba2NdRuO6 are reported. Powder neutron diffraction measurements were performed at 100, 35 and 7 K to determine its crystal structure and magnetic properties. Refinement of the data collected at 100 K showed that this compound has monoclinic symmetry, space group P21/n with a = 5.9888(2), b = 5.9916(2), c = 8.4667(2) A and β = 90.026(3)°, and that the structure is that of a perovskite with a 1∶1 ordered arrangement of Ru5+ and Nd3+ over the 6-coordinate sites. From the data collected at 35 and 7 K, it was found that there is a long range antiferromagnetic ordering in the Ba2NdRuO6. The magnetic structure is of type I and the magnetic moments of Nd3+ and Ru5+ ions are in the same direction in the ab plane.