Morphotropic Phase Boundaries in Ferromagnets: Tb1 xDyxFe2 Alloys

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.017203· OSTI ID:1089324

Bergstrom, Richard ^[1]; Wuttig, Manfred ^[1]; Cullen, James ^[1]; Zavalij, Peter ^[1]; Dennis, Cindi ^[2]; Garlea, Vasile O ^[3]; Laver, Mark ^[1]

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1. University of Maryland
2. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD
3. ORNL

The structure and properties of the ferromagnet Tb1 xDyxFe2 are explored through the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) separating ferroic phases of differing symmetry. Our synchrotron data support a first order structural transition, with a broadening MPB width at higher temperatures. The optimal point for magnetomechanical applications is not centered on the MPB but lies on the rhombohedral side, where the high striction of the rhombohedral majority phase combines with the softened anisotropy of the MPB. We compare our findings with single ion crystal field theory and with ferroelectric MPBs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Spallation Neutron Source (SNS)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1089324
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 111, Issue 1; ISSN 0031--9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English