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Superconductivity and magnetism in the Ho/sub 1-x/Er/sub x/Rh/sub 4/B/sub 4/ alloy system

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.330915· OSTI ID:5585412

We have used neutron scattering techniques to examine the magnetic transitions in the Ho/sub 1-x/Er/sub x/Rh/sub 4/B/sub 4/ pseudoternary system. A wide variety of behavior is found, ranging from mean-field behavior for HoRh/sub 4/B/sub 4/ to complicated behavior for ErRh/sub 4/B/sub 4/, where superconductivity and long-range ferromagnetic order coexist between 0.7 and 1.2 K. Long-range ferromagnetic order is found at the lowest temperatures for all alloy compositions. Alloys with more than about 30% Ho order magnetically along the c axis and superconductivity is destroyed in these alloys in a sharp transition coincident with magnetic ordering. Alloys near the ErRh/sub 4/B/sub 4/ composition order in the basal plane but undergo a complex ordering process through a sinusoidally modulated state. Because Ho and Er have competing orthogonal magnetic anisotropies, compounds near the composition Ho/sub 0.25/Er/sub 0.75/Rh/sub 4/B/sub 4/ are near a multicritical point in the magnetic phase diagram.

Research Organization:
Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
OSTI ID:
5585412
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 53:3; ISSN JAPIA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English