Magnetic phase transitions in ErRhSi

Polycrystalline sample of the ErRhSi compound have been prepared and studied by powder neutron diffraction, specific heat and electrical resistivity measurements. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic TiNiSi-type structure, The magnetic phase transition at T-1, = 2.3 K and the Neel temperature T-N = 8.5 K have been determined by the temperature dependencies of the intensities of the magnetic peaks, specific heat and electrical resistivity. At 1.5 K a commensurate magnetic structure. described by the propagation vector k = (0 1 0) coexists with the incommensurate one with k = (0, 0,4184(4), 0). Above T, only incommensurate phase with the propagation vector k (0.0.4173(2), 0) at 4 K exist, Er magnetic moment is parallel to the a-axis for both phases below T-1 and form angle +/-19- with a-axis in the temperature range T-1 and T-c. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.