Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
HoAlGa is hexagonal at room temperature. It undergoes two magnetic transitions succesively at TN = 32 K from a paramagnetic to a triangular antiferromagnetic state where the Ho moments lie in the basal plane and at Tt = 18 K in the course of which the moments rotate toward c giving rise to a colinear antiferromagnetic arrangement. X-ray experiments performed between 5 and 300 K allow to determine the crystal evolution through the two transitions. The hexagonal symmetry is not lowered through the transitions; this result is compatible with the observed magnetic groups. The thermal expansion curves show a very anisotropic behaviour of the lattice parameters. The “c” parameter shrinks below TN and this anomaly is to be related to the magnetic order. Along a, a positive thermal anomaly appears below 70 K and this can be interpreted by crystal field effects. Stability of magnetic structures is discussed with regard to exchange interactions and magnetocrystalline anisotropy.