Easy-plane magnetic anisotropy in layered GdMn₂Si₂ compound with easy-axis magnetocrystalline anisotropy

Magnetic properties and magnetic structures of layered GdMnSi₂ compound were studied using quasisingle crystal, high magnetic fields up to 520 kOe, and neutron powder diffraction experiment designed for high absorbent systems. It was shown that GdMn₂Si₂ has strong easy plane type magnetic anisotropy at temperatures T_Gd < 52 K at which Gd atoms are magnetically ordered. At temperatures 52 K < T < 453 K, the compound has antiferromagnetic ordering of Mn layers and easy axis type magnetic anisotropy with the easy axis directed along the tetragonal c-axis. The exchange-induced in-plane magnetic anisotropy of layered GdMn₂Si₂ at low temperatures arises to prevent magnetic frustration in Gd layers. Magnetic properties of GdMn₂Si₂ at temperatures below 52 K can be described within a threesublattice model based on the Yafet-Kittel approximation.