Magnetism of Ho(1-x)Tb(x)Al(2) alloys: Critical dependence of a first-order transition on Tb concentration
| Title | Magnetism of Ho(1-x)Tb(x)Al(2) alloys: Critical dependence of a first-order transition on Tb concentration |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2011 |
| Authors | Khan M, Mudryk Y, Gschneidner KA, Pecharsky VK |
| Journal Title | Physical Review B |
| Volume | 84 |
| Pages | 214437 |
| Date Published | 12 |
| Type of Article | Article |
| ISBN Number | 1098-0121 |
| Accession Number | WOS:000298551500007 |
| Keywords | crystal-field, heat, hoal2, magnetocrystalline anisotropy, SINGLE-CRYSTAL, tbal2 |
| Abstract | HoAl(2) exhibits a first-order spin reorientation transition at 20 K, which is manifested as a sharp peak in the heat capacity. When Ho is partially replaced by only 5% of Tb, the sharp heat-capacity peak in Ho(1-x)Tb(x)Al(2) (x = 0.05) disappears, and then reappears again for x >= 0.07. For x = 0.05, the anomaly corresponding to the spin reorientation transition is barely seen in the heat capacity, but as x exceeds 0.07 the weak anomaly transforms to a sharp peak. The spin reorientation transition temperature increases to 29 K for x = 0.05, and as x increases further the transition shifts to lower temperature and returns to similar to 20 K for x = 0.25. The transition is no longer observed when x exceeds 0.60. Temperature-dependent x-ray powder-diffraction data confirm the first-order nature of the spin reorientation transition for the alloy with x = 0.40, and indicate that the compound retains the room-temperature cubic structure within the sensitivity of the technique. Experimental observations are discussed considering the easy magnetization directions of HoAl(2) and TbAl(2). |
| DOI | 10.1103/PhysRevB.84.214437 |
| Alternate Journal | Phys. Rev. B |
