Magnetic properties of some rare-earth magnesium compounds RMg2

Abstract

The magnetic properties of the compounds PrMg₂, NdMg₂, DyMg₂, and ErMg₂ were studied by means of neutron diffraction at various temperatures. All these compounds give rise to ferromagnetic ordering. The absolute values of the magnetic moments in the magnetically ordered state are lower than the free‐ion values. Inelastic neutron scattering at several temperatures was studied in PrMg₂ and NdMg₂. Analysis of the scattering data in conjunction with the results of specific‐heat and magnetization measurements shows that PrMg₂ is an induced‐moment system (G₃ ground state), where quadrupolar effects carry a large weight in determining the magnetic properties. The values found for the crystal‐field parameters in PrMg₂ (x = 0.671 and W = −0.345) are consistent with the results obtained with CeMg₂ and NdMg₂ (A₄≳0, A₆<0).