MAGNETIC-ANISOTROPY AND MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF RTSI (R = GD, Y, T = MN, FE) COMPOUNDS

Magnetic properties of GdxY1-xMnSi and GdMnxFe1-xSi compounds with CeF eSi-type structure have been studied by magnetization measurements in the temperature range 77-600 K in static magnetic fields up to 12, kOe . The measurements for some compounds have been carried out on single crystal samples. The easy magnetization direction of all single crysta l samples was found to be the c axis. The value of the anisotropy cons tant K-1 for GdMnSi was estimated to be 2.0.10(6) erg cm(-3) at 77 K. The substitution in both rare earth and 3d sublattices leads to a shar p increase in magnetic anisotropy of these compounds. The concentratio n dependencies of magnetic ordering temperatures, effective magnetic m oments and paramagnetic Curie temperatures have been determined. The o btained results can be explained by the modification of the band struc ture due to the change of interatomic distances and the filling of 3d band. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.