Magnetic properties of the ternary RMgSn (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd–Tm): First series of antiferromagnetic CeScSi-type structure compounds

Abstract

The equiatomic ternary RMgSn compounds crystallize in the CeScSi (Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd–Tm), TiNiSi (Ce, Pr) or ZrNiAl (Yb) type structures. Macroscopic magnetic measurements, performed in the 5–300 K range, show that all the CeScSi-type compounds behave antiferromagnetically (8 < T N < 79 K). They also evidence metamagnetic-like behavior ( H crit < 7 T). The TiNiSi-type compounds are antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic below 12 K and 52 K for CeMgSn and PrMgSn, respectively.