Studies of the Fe/Si site occupation and the magnetic structure in 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 a statistical occupation of Fe on all four lattice sites. In the magnetical ordered state the temperature dependence of the magnetic part of the integrated peak intensities has been investigated. Diverging results obtained from magnetic measurements concerning a spin reorientation could be somewhat clarified.