Magnetic Ordering in SmNi2B2C

The zero-field muon spin relaxation (ZF-μSR) technique is employed to study the magnetic properties of the non-superconducting borocarbide SmNi2B2C. Coherent ordering of the Sm electronic magnetic moments appears below 9.86(3) K, leading to a local field at the muon site of 1056.2(2) G at 3.3 K. Measurements on superconducting YNi2B2C reveal no evidence of either slowing-down of fluctuating or the presence of quasi-static Ni electronic moments down to 3 K.