Magnetic characteristics of rare-earth indium R 2In ( R =Y, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm) intermetallic compounds

Measurements of the magnetic susceptibility of the R2In compounds from 4.2 to 270 K have been made. All compounds except Y2In and Sm2In exhibit Curie-Weiss behavior at high temperatures with effective magnetic moments agreeing reasonably well with the free-ion 3+ picture modified by RKKY exchange except for Gd2In, which gives an unusually high value for the effective moment. With the exception of Y2In all other members exhibit susceptibility maxima. Gd2In, Tb2In, and Dy2In order antiferromagnetically. Gd2In is a metamagnetic compound. For the three compounds Ho2In, Er2In, and Tm2In there is no indication of their type of ordering at low temperatures. The isotherm at 4.2 K of Nd2In shows a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic behavior.