Experimental study of magnetic ordering in single-crystalline U2NiSi3

Single crystal of ternary uranium-based silicide U2NiSi3, which crystallizes with a disordered hexagonal AlB2-type structure, was investigated by means of magnetic, resistivity, heat capacity, and neutron-diffraction measurements. While dc magnetic characteristics and neutron-diffraction measurement give evidence for the long-range magnetic ordering, ac magnetic susceptibility, isothermal remanent magnetization, resistivity, and heat capacity data are consistent with spin-glass behavior. The obtained results suggest the formation in U2NiSi3 of rather unusual state in which long-range magnetic ordering coexists with spin-glass freezing.