Manipulating 4f quadrupolar pair interactions in TbB2C2 using a magnetic field

Resonant soft x-ray Bragg diffraction at the Tb M4,5 edges and non resonant Bragg diffraction have been used to investigate orbitals in TbB2C2. The Tb 4f quadrupole moments are ordered in zero field below T_N and show a ferroquadrupolar alignment dictated by the antiferromagnetic order. With increasing applied field along [110] the Tb 4f magnetic dipole moments rotate in a gradual manner toward the field. The quadrupole moment is rigidly coupled to the magnetic moment and follows this field-induced rotation. The quadrupolar pair interaction is found to depend on the specific orientation of the orbitals as predicted theoretically and can be manipulated with an applied magnetic field.