Magnetism on the Tb1−xNdxMn2Si2 silicides

Abstract The structural and magnetic properties of the polycrystalline Tb 1− x Nd x Mn 2 Si 2 (0⩽ x ⩽1) compounds were studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction, AC susceptibility and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All compounds investigated crystallize in the body-centered tetragonal ThCr 2 Si 2 -type structure with the space group I4/mmm. Substitution of Nd for Tb leads to a linear increase of the lattice constants and the unit cell volume. The lattice constants and the unit cell volume obey Vegard's law. At low temperatures, the rare-earth sublattice orders and reconfigures the ordering in the Mn sublattice. The samples with x =0.2, x =0.4 and x =0.6 exhibit spin reorientation phenomenon below T C (RE) and at about 200 K, AC susceptibility curve of these samples has a cusp denoting the Neel temperature T N1 (Mn). The Neel temperature T N2 (Mn) determined by DSC technique decreases linearly with increasing Nd content x . The results are collected in the x – T magnetic phase diagram.