Specific heat and magnetic susceptibility of intermetallic compounds R3Ni

The results of measurements and analysis of initial magnetic susceptibility and specific heat of intermetallic R 3 Ni (R=heavy rare earth or Y) are presented. The comparative analysis allowed us to determine origin of magnetic anomalies as well as to define their temperatures more precisely. It is shown that strong short-range magnetic ordering remains above T N . The effect of spin freezing have been found in almost all investigated R 3 Ni. The specific splitting of the ground level multiplet leads to rather unusual magnetic entropy behavior in some of R 3 Ni compounds.