Crystalline electric fields and magnetic properties of single-crystalline RNiC2 compounds (R Ho, Er and Tm)

Abstract Magnetometric investigations were performed onsingle-crystalline HoNiC 2 , ErNiC 2 and TmNiC 2 compounds. Susceptibility of HoNiC 2 shows no anomaly around T N , but a clear cusp appears at T t = 2.9 K. Magnetization curves reveal that the anisotropy is relatively weak and that the Ho moments align not along any crystallographic axis. In addition to T N = 8.5 K of ErNiC 2 , a new order—order transition at T t = 3.6 K has been found. Although the Er moments align along the a -axis between T t , and T N , it seems certain that the small moment-components along the b - and c -axes come into existence below T t . TmNiC 2 with T N = 5.5 K has a strong uniaxial anisotropy along the a -axis. These results are discussed on the basis of competitions between the magnetic interactions and the crystal field effect which changes anomalously by the replacement of rare earth element. It has been found that the drastic change of crystal field occurs between HoNiC 2 and ErNiC 2 without any corresponding structural change.