Magnetic properties of NdAu2Ge2

Physical properties of NdAu2Ge2, crystallising with the tetragonal ThCr2Si2-type crystal structure, were investigated by means of magnetic, calorimetric and electrical transport measurements as well as by neutron diffraction. The compound exhibits antiferromagnetic ordering below TN=4.5 K with a collinear magnetic structure of the AFI-type. The neodymium magnetic moments are parallel to the c-axis and amount to 1.04(4) μB at 1.5 K. The observed magnetic behaviour is strongly influenced by crystalline electric field effect.