Resonant Magnetic X-ray Diffraction Study on the Triangular Lattice Antiferromagnet GdPd2Al3

Resonant magnetic x-ray diffraction experiments were carried out on the stacked triangular lattice antiferromagnet GdPd2Al3. The experiments revealed an expected initial collinear c-axis order at TN1 followed by an additional in-plane order at TN2, while at the same time we found that the ground state is a helically ordered state of a very long incommensurate period of approximately 700A. The distribution of K-domains was highly anisotropic, and the domain with the modulation vector normal to the surface of the crystal was ascendant. Low-field magnetization is discussed on the basis of the observed incommensurate magnetic structure.