Spin-waves in Nd2PdSi3 with coexistent ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism

Rare-earth magnetic materials often exhibit complex magnetic ordering, due to the presence of competing magnetic interactions. In our previous neutron diffraction study, we found evidence that Nd2PdSi3 is one such example, since it exhibits both ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) Bragg peaks in the ordered phase. We recently performed inelastic neutron scattering measurements on a Nd2PdSi3 single crystal, so as to determine the underlying magnetic exchange interactions, giving us a microscopic understanding of the complex magnetic ground state. At 8 K, we observed both AFM and FM spin-waves, in line with that expected from the neutron diffraction study. In order to complete our study, and understand the interplay between FM and AFM interactions, we request an additional three days to measure the spin-waves of Nd2PdSi3 at 2 K, where the system is close to a uniform FM state.