The ternary silicides and germanides RNiX_{2} (R - rare earth, X = Si or Ge) with the orthorhombic CeNiSi_{2}-type structure are investigated by magnetometric measurements. CeNiSi_{2}, CeNiGe_{2} and SmNiGe_{2} have a nonmagnetic state in low temperatures. The compounds with R = Pr and Nd are ferromagnets while those containing R = Gd-Er are antiferromagnets. The de Gennes scaling of the Néel temperatures indicates a strong influence of the crystalline-electric field effects.
The magnetic properties including the magnetic structure were determined by magnetometric and neutron diffraction measurements of the polycrystalline samples. RCuGe compounds are antiferromagnets at low temperatures, with T_{N} ranging from 2.2 K for R = Pr to 17 K for R = Gd. The external magnetic field causes a change in the type of the magnetic ordering from antiferro- to ferromagnetic state. From the neutron diffraction data the magnetic structure of all RCuGe compounds are determined. In the case of ErCuGe below T_{N} an additional phase transition is observed. The obtained experimental data are discussed in terms of an exchange interaction of the RKKY-type and crystalline electric field.
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