Investigation of the magnetic ground state of GaV₄S₈using powder neutron diffraction

The magnetic ground state of polycrystalline Néel skyrmion hosting material GaV₄S₈has been investigated usingacsusceptibility and powder neutron diffraction. In the absence of an applied magnetic field GaV₄S₈undergoes a transition from a paramagnetic to a cycloidal state below 13 K and then to a ferromagnetic-like state below 6 K. With evidence fromacsusceptibility and powder neutron diffraction, we have identified the commensurate magnetic structure at 1.5 K, with ordered magnetic moments of 0.23(2) μ_Bon the V1 sites and 0.22(1) μ_Bon the V2 sites. These moments have ferromagnetic-like alignment but with a 39(8)° canting of the magnetic moments on the V2 sites away from the V₄cluster. In the incommensurate magnetic phase that exists between 6 and 13 K, we provide a thorough and careful analysis of the cycloidal magnetic structure exhibited by this material using powder neutron diffraction.