Structure and magnetism in DyxPr1-x and ErxPr1-x alloys: I. Hexagonal close-packed and Sm structures

Paul Clegg, R A Cowley, J P Goff, D F McMorrow, R C C Ward, M R Wells

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Epitaxial thin films of dysprosium-praseodymium and erbium-praseodymium alloys have been studied using neutron and x-ray diffraction. The magnetic and structural properties have been determined for DyxPr1-x for 1.0 greater than or equal to x greater than or equal to 0.5 and for Er0.5Pr0.5. The crystal structure is hexagonal close-packed (hcp) for 1.0 greater than or equal to x greater than or equal to 0.6 and changes to the Sm type for x similar to 0.5. The hcp samples form basal-plane helices with a transition to ferromagnetism accompanied by a discontinuity in the lattice parameter c. The alloys with the Sm structure form commensurate magnetic structures similar to that of Sm metal with anisotropy dictated by the heavy-rare-earth constituent. The changes in transition temperatures, magnetoelastic effects and modulation wave vector with composition have been studied. The relationships between change in ordering wave vector and magnetization and between transition temperature and the de Gennes factor of the constituents have been established for light-heavy-rare-earth systems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10175-10189
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Physics: Condensed Matter
Volume13
Issue number45
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Nov 2001

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • SUPERLATTICES
  • TEMPERATURES
  • TRANSITION
  • FILMS
  • DY

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