On the magnetic structure of Er2Fe14Si2

Abstract Elastic powder neutron diffraction experiments on the off-stoichiometric Th 2 Ni 17 -type Er 2 Fe 14 Si 2 have been performed at temperatures between 10 and 593 K. In the paramagnetic state, a structural refinement revealed only small deviations from the statistical occupation of Fe on all four lattice sites. In the magnetically ordered state below T c =478 K, a magnetic refinement was performed, too. Above the upper spin reorientation temperature T sr1 =110 K, a simple ferrimagnetic structure with an easy plane magnetization was found. In the temperature range T sr1 =110 K and T sr2b =30 K, the moments tilt out of the plane. Below 30 K the magnetization is again easy plane, but with reduced Er moments. At ambient temperature, neutron diffraction experiments have been performed on the stoichiometric pseudobinary compound Er 2 Fe 15 Si 2 , too, in order to look for some influence of the deviation from the exact stoichiometry on the formation of the magnetic moments.