Magnetic ordering in pyrochlore Ho2Mn2O7

The magnetic susceptibility of Ho2Mn2O7 with a spontaneous rise below about 40 K and a paramagnetic Curie temperature of +39 K suggests a ferromagnetic ordering. Indeed neutron diffraction profiles show strongly enhanced Bragg peaks with a temperature dependence which indicates an apparent Tc≊35 K. Nonetheless, the magnetic diffraction pattern is not consistent with a collinear ferro or ferrimagnetic ordering of the Ho3+ and Mn4+ sublattices. Furthermore, specific heat and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) show features which are also incompatible with conventional long-range order.