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Single-crystal elastic constants and magnetoelasticity of erbium from 4.2 to 300 $sup 0$K

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev., B, v. 8, no. 9, pp. 4399-4404
OSTI ID:4324285

The five independent elastic coefficients of hexagonal erbium single crystals have been determlned by means of an ultrasonic pulse technique at a frequency of 10 MHz, between 4.2 and 300 deg K. From the elastic coefficients were calculated the temperature variation of the directional adiabatic compressibilities (parallel and perpendicular to the hexagonal c axis), the limiting Debye temperature, and the anisotropy ratios. The elastic coefficients exhibit typical anomalies at the magnetic ordering transitions known to occur in erbium. The most prominent anomaly ln the elastic properties of erbium was found on the low-temperature side of the transition from the sinusoidal modulation of the antiferromagnetic arrangement into the helical (square-wave) one at 54 deg K. The character of this anomaly suggests the occurrence of a first-order phase change. The adiabatic compressiibilty in the direction parallel to the hexagonal axls displays an unusual 'softening'' effect at low temperatures. The limiting value of the Debye temperature of erbium, extrapolated to 0 deg K, is 190.3 deg K. The present measurements of the single-crystal elastic constants of erbuum and the reported magnetostriction data, enabled the calculation of the magnetoelastic energy contribution DELTA E/sub me/ to the total energy at the magnetic transition from square-wave modulation to the conical ferromagnetic ordering at 19.5 deg K. DELTA E/sub me/ was found to be -1.01 J cm/sup -3/. (auth)

Research Organization:
Nuclear Research Center-Negev, P.O.B. 9001, Beer Sheva, Israel
NSA Number:
NSA-29-021536
OSTI ID:
4324285
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev., B, v. 8, no. 9, pp. 4399-4404, Journal Name: Phys. Rev., B, v. 8, no. 9, pp. 4399-4404; ISSN PLRBA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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