Magnetic properties of some rare‐earth magnesium compounds RMg2

The magnetic properties of the compounds PrMg2, NdMg2, DyMg2, and ErMg2 were studied by means of neutron diffraction at various temperatures. All these compounds give rise to ferromagnetic ordering. The absolute values of the magnetic moments in the magnetically ordered state are lower than the free‐ion values. Inelastic neutron scattering at several temperatures was studied in PrMg2 and NdMg2. Analysis of the scattering data in conjunction with the results of specific‐heat and magnetization measurements shows that PrMg2 is an induced‐moment system (G3 ground state), where quadrupolar effects carry a large weight in determining the magnetic properties. The values found for the crystal‐field…