Use of Stevens coefficients for the prediction of magnetic transitions in pseudobinary R1xR(x)(2) alloys: Application to Tm1-xTbxAl(2)
| Title | Use of Stevens coefficients for the prediction of magnetic transitions in pseudobinary R1xR(x)(2) alloys: Application to Tm1-xTbxAl(2) |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2011 |
| Authors | Khan M, Paudyal D, Mudryk Y, Gschneidner KA, Pecharsky VK |
| Journal Title | Physical Review B |
| Volume | 83 |
| Pages | 134437 |
| Date Published | 04 |
| Type of Article | Article |
| ISBN Number | 1098-0121 |
| Accession Number | WOS:000292145000003 |
| Keywords | crystal, electronic-structure, field, rare-earth-metals, systems |
| Abstract | Recent heat-capacity and low-field magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed unusual magnetic phenomena occurring in Er(1-x)R(x)Al(2) systems (where R = Dy,Tb) in the vicinity of a "magic" concentration of x = 0.25. Empirically, such behavior was attributed to different shapes of the 4f charge densities of the R(3+) ions, which are represented by the opposite signs of the second-order Stevens factors. Here we show that by using both the signs and magnitudes of the second-order Stevens factors, magnetic transitions can be predicted in a broader range of pseudobinary R(1-x)R(x)'Al(2) alloys, where R and R' are rare-earth metals that have opposite signs of second-order Stevens factors. The predictions have been verified using the Tm(1-x)Tb(x)Al(2) system as a model using x-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and heat-capacity measurements. First-principles calculations have also been performed to explore the behavior of the density of states near the Fermi level. |
| DOI | 10.1103/PhysRevB.83.134437 |
| Alternate Journal | Phys. Rev. B |
