119Sn hyperfine interactions in REAuSn (RE=rare earth)

Intermetallic REAuSn (RE=rare earth elements) compounds were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetic measurements and 119Sn Moessbauer spectroscopy. It was shown that the majority of them exhibit complex antiferromagnetic ordering at low temperatures. The nature of hyperfine interactions has been discussed based on γ-ray absorption spectroscopy together with magnetic and structural data. Lanthanide contraction is reflected in the lattice parameters and isomer shifts. Strong experimental arguments support correlation between crystallographic type of structure and magnetic disordering in investigated compounds. (authors)