Symmetry and light stuffing of Ho2Ti2O7, Er2Ti2O7, and Yb2Ti2O7 characterized by synchrotron x-ray diffraction

The Ho2Ti2O7, Er2Ti2O7, and Yb2Ti2O7 pyrochlores were studied by synchrotron x-ray diffraction to determine whether the (002) peak, forbidden in the pyrochlore space group Fd-3m but observed in single crystal neutron scattering measurements, is present due to a deviation of their pyrochlore structure from Fd-3m symmetry. Synchrotron diffraction measurements on precisely synthesized stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric powders and a crushed …