The Influence of Interatomic Distances on Magnetic Ordering
in RMnSi Compounds (R = La, Y, Sm, and Gd)

S. A. Nikitin*, T. I. Ivanova*, Yu. A. Ovchenkova*, M. V. Maslennikova*,
G. S. Burkhanov**, and O. D. Chistyakov**

* Moscow State University, Vorob’evy gory, Moscow, 119899 Russia

** Bakov Institute of Metallurgy, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninski pr. 49, Moscow, 117334 Russia

e-mail: ivanova@rem.phys.msu.su

Received May 15, 2001

Abstract—Magnetic ordering in the RMnSi (R = La, Y, Sm, and Gd) compounds is investigated. It is found that
the type of magnetic ordering depends on the d_Mn–Mn distance between manganese atoms inside the magnetic
layers located in the planes perpendicular to the c axis. This inference is based on the results of studies per-
formed with SmMnSi and GdMnSi compounds in which the distances between manganese atoms are close to
the critical value d_Mn–Mn that corresponds to the crossover between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic order-
ing in RMnSi compounds. The introduction of lanthanum and yttrium atoms into the rare-earth sublattice leads
to an increase and a decrease in the unit cell size, respectively, and brings about magnetic phase transitions in
the compounds under investigation. © 2002 MAIK “Nauka/Interperiodica”.

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