Raman spectra of polycrystalline intermetallic compounds Sm1-xGdxAl2 (x = 0, 0.01 and 0.02) have been obtained over the temperature range 83-293 K. Raman lines at similar to115 cm(-1) were observed in each of the samples at room temperature. These Raman lines were associated with the optical modes of phonons. The Raman line splits into two lines at low temperature. It is suggested that the splitting at low temperature is related to the interaction between magnetic excitations and phonons. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.