We present a single crystal neutron diffraction study of the magnetic
short-range correlations in Tb5βGe4β which orders antiferromagnetically
below the Neel temperature TNββ 92 K. Strong diffuse scattering
arising from magnetic short-range correlations was observed in wide temperature
ranges both below and above TNβ. The antiferromagnetic ordering in
Tb5βGe4β can be described as strongly coupled ferromagnetic block layers in
the ac-plane that stack along the b-axis with weak antiferromagnetic
inter-layer coupling. Diffuse scattering was observed along both aβ and
bβ directions indicating three-dimensional short-range correlations.
Moreover, the q-dependence of the diffuse scattering is Squared-Lorentzian in
form suggesting a strongly clustered magnetic state that may be related to the
proposed Griffiths-like phase in Gd5βGe4β.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure