Magnetic ordering in UNiSi2

Neutron diffraction and magnetization studies have been carried out on the intermetallic compound UNiSi2. The diffraction data confirm the orthorhombic CeNiSi2 type structure reported earlier for this compound. The present magnetization studies show that UNiSi2 orders ferromagnetically below 97 K and that there is no indication of any antiferromagnetic component down to 2 K. The low temperature neutron diffraction data show collinear ferromagnetic ordering, with the U-moments directed along the shorter (c)-axis. The value of the magnetic moment on uranium atoms is found to be 1.2 μB.