Magnetic anisotropy and magnetic properties of RTSi (R=Gd, Y; T=Mn, Fe) compounds

Magnetic properties of GdxY1−xMnSi and GdMnxFe1−xSi compounds with CeFeSi-type structure have been studied by magnetization measurements in the temperature range 77–600 K in static magnetic fields up to 12 kOe. The measurements for some compounds have been carried out on single crystal samples. The easy magnetization direction of all single crystal samples was found to be the c axis. The value of the anisotropy constant K1 for GdMnSi was estimated to be 2.0·106 ergcm−3 at 77 K. The substitution in both rare earth and 3d sublattices leads to a sharp increase in magnetic anisotropy of these compounds. The concentration dependencies of magnetic ordering temperatures, effective magnetic moments and paramagnetic Curie temperatures have been determined. The obtained results can be explained by the modification of the band structure due to the change of interatomic distances and the filling of 3d band.