Crystal-field and magnetic moment direction in rare earth-silicon intermetallic compounds RSi of CrB type (R=Tb,Dy, Ho,Er, Tm)

Using a crystal-field calculation within a point charge model, we interpret the rare-earth magnetic moment direction in the equiatomic rare earth-silicon compounds of CrB type. We showed that the 2nd order crystal-field parameter V²₂ is predominant and implies the magnetic moment to the perpendicular to the two-fold quantization axis i.e. b-axis. The calculated magnetic moment direction are in good agreement with neutron diffraction results.