Magnetic properties of Al-Gd-Ni orthorhombic compounds

The magnetic properties of the Al4GdNi, Al2GdNi and AlGd2Ni2 compounds have been investigated using magnetic measurements in the temperature range 4-800 K and magnetic fields up to 9 T and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at room temperature. The compounds Al4GdNi and AlGd2Ni2 order antiferromagnetically at TN = 20 and 25 K, respectively, and Al2GdNi orders ferromagnetically at TC = 39 K. The results are discussed in terms of the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida theory, the polarization of 5d electrons by the local exchange interaction 4f-5d and the spin fluctuations on Ni sites.