Observation of chirality domains in terbium by polarized neutron diffraction topography

2014 We have carried out the first observation of spiral spin or chirality domains, in a single crystal of terbium in its helimagnetic phase, by polarized neutron diffraction topography. The different domain structures observed are a function of the thermal history of the sample. When the sample is warmed from the ferromagnetic phase one observes stripe domains with long axis perpendicular to the helical axis and width of ~ 0.15 mm. Cooling the sample from the paramagnetic phase produces more randomly shaped domain structures, which are reproducible for a given distortion state of the sample. J. Physique 42 (1981) 1279-1283 SEPTEMBRE 1981,