Magnetic properties of RAu2Si2 rare earth compounds

The magnetic properties of the R Au₂Si₂ compounds with R = Ce-Er have been investigated. It was found that the compounds for which R = Ce, Sm, Gd, Tb and Dy are antiferromagnetically ordered at temperatures ranging from 5.7 to 15.9°K. PrAu₂Si₂ and NdAu₂Si₂ exhibit paramagnetic behavior for temperatures as low as 4.2°K. The magnetic structure is ferrimagnetic for the compounds in which R = Eu, Ho, and Er. The Eu compound is in the divalent state. The Néel and Curie points for this system do not follow the De-Gemnes function. Curie-Weiss Behavior is exhibited by all the compounds with effective moments in good agreement with that of a free tripositive lanthanide ion. The difference in magnetic properties between R Au₂Si₂ and the isomorphous R Fe₂Si₂ series is discussed.