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Magnetic properties of the rare-earth intermetallics RGa/sub 2/

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.324938· OSTI ID:5122961
The magnetic susceptibility (chi) of polycrystalline samples of RGa/sub 2/, R=Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er, has been measured at low field, from 1.5 K to 300 K. The magnetization of these samples also has been measured up to 80 kOe at low temperatures. Antiferromagnetic behavior was observed for all the samples with Neel temperatures (T/sub N/) ranging from about 4.1 K for CeGa/sub 2/ to about 14.8 K for TbGa/sub 2/. Curie-Weiss fits to the high-temperature chi (T) data led to effective moments in good agreement with those expected for R/sup 3 +/ ions. The paramagnetic Weiss temperatures cannot be reconciled with the de Gennes theory based on free electron coupling of the R spins via the RKKY interaction. Electrical resistivity of selected polycrystalline samples has been measured, and the effects of spin-disorder scattering observed below T/sub N/. CeGa/sub 2/ shows no evidence of Kondo behavior. Magnetization measurements for the polycrystalline samples show metamagnetic phase transitions when the antiferromagnetic R-R interactions are overcome. Measurements on a HoGa/sub 2/ single crystal show that the (100) direction is the easy direction.
Research Organization:
Behlen Laboratory of Physics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588
OSTI ID:
5122961
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 49:3; ISSN JAPIA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English