MAGNETIC-ORDERING OF NDNIGE2 AND CENIGE2 STUDIED BY NEUTRON-DIFFRACTION AND MAGNETIC MEASUREMENTS

The magnetic properties of the compounds CeNiGe2 and NdNiGe2 were studied by means of magnetic measurements and neutron diffraction. Neutron diffraction experiments made in the paramagnetic regime confirmed the CeNiSi2 structure reported earlier for these compounds. Refined atomic position parameters for both compounds are given. Neutron diffraction measurements performed in the magnetically ordered regime showed that the rare earth moments in NdNiGe2 order ferromagnetic with the preferred moment direction along the c-axis. Long-range ferromagnetic ordering was not observed in CeNiGe2. Its previously reported two-step antiferromagnetic ordering below T < 4 K can not be yet elucidated.