Magnetic properties of LaNi <Emphasis Type="Bold">1-</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Bold">x</Emphasis>Mn <Emphasis Type="Bold">x</Emphasis>O <Emphasis Type="Bold">3+δ</Emphasis> perovskites

Magnetic measurements have been carried out in different LaNi_1-xMn_xO _{3 + δ} samples with 0.1 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.9. All these samples show two magnetic anomalies, one at relatively high temperature characteristic of a ferromagnetic ordering and the other at low temperature, typical of magnetic relaxation phenomena. Neutron diffraction patterns indicate that long-range ferromagnetic ordering is only achieved for x ≥ 0.5. Neutron patterns of LaNi_0.5Mn_0.5O _{3 + δ} samples show an ordered arrangement of Ni and Mn atoms in the perovskite lattice. LaNi_0.5Mn_0.5O _{3 + δ} is then, a double perovskite A₂BB'O₆ whereas Ni and Mn atoms are randomly distributed for the rest of the samples. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism experiments confirm the presence of collinear ferromagnetism in LaNi_0.5Mn_0.5O _{3 + δ} . The role of competitive magnetic interactions, structural disorder, magnetic anisotropy and magnetic disaccommodation is also discussed Received 19 July 2002 / Received in final form 23 October 2002 Published online 31 December 2002