Magnetic and structural studies of erbium-iron-manganese-boron alloy (invited)

Journal Article · Fri Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.340863· OSTI ID:5391079

Fuerst, C D; Meisner, G P; Pinkerton, F E; Yelon, W B

We report the results of neutron diffraction and magnetization measurements on powder samples of Er/sub 2/(Fe,Mn)/sub 14/B. We find that the unit cell expands with increased concentration of manganese as larger manganese atoms replace the smaller iron atoms within the transition metal sublattice. The preferential occupancy of transition metal sites is also affected since manganese prefers positions with larger site volumes, such as the j/sub 2/, while iron prefers smaller site volumes, such as the k/sub 2/. At low temperatures (4.2 K) the simple collinear moment model of the magnetic structure, valid at higher temperatures, is not sufficient to explain the existence of reflections forbidden in the space group P4/sub 2//mnm. A five-sublattice model is used in which each of the two rare-earth sites splits into two distinct sublattices whose moments are oppositely canted from the direction antiparallel to the transition metal moment. The linear field dependence of the magnetization provides support for this moment configuration. Neutron diffraction analysis of the transition metal moments is compared to the compositional dependence of the magnetization.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, General Motors Research Laboratories, Warren, Michigan 48090-9055
• OSTI ID: 5391079
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 63:8; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
ALLOYS
BORON ALLOYS
COHERENT SCATTERING
CONCENTRATION RATIO
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIFFRACTION
ELEMENTS
ERBIUM ALLOYS
IRON ALLOYS
MAGNETIC MOMENTS
MAGNETIZATION
MAGNETS
MANGANESE
MANGANESE ALLOYS
METALS
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
PERMANENT MAGNETS
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
SCATTERING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS