Description:
AbstractNeutron diffraction measurements on the intermetallic compounds Tb2Ni17, Er2Ni17, and Tm2Ni17 show that these materials are ferrimagnet,ic below their Curie temperatures 178, 166, and 152 K, respectively. This magnetic property is in agreement with previous susceptibility data. Tb2Ni17 and Er2Ni17 have collinear magnetic structure with magnetic moments which are perpendicular and parallel to the c‐axis of the crystals. Tm2Ni17 has a canted magnetic structure. The coupling between rare earth and nickel moments is negative, whereas the coupling between atoms of the same kind is positive. The measured mean value of the rare earth moment in the above compounds is 8.6, 8.0, and 6.0μB. respectively. The nickel moment is 0.3μB. Bertaut's macroscopic theory gives magnetic modes compatible with the magnetic structure experimentally observed. Crystal field calculations give two different anisotropy directions for the two rare earth sites.