(1) Department of Physics, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK, GB;(2) Institut für Theoretische Physik, RWTH Aachen, Germany, DE
Abstract:
Thermal expansion and forced magnetostriction measurements are reported on two Gd intermetallic compounds which order magnetically below 10 K. The relative influence of the electronic, lattice and magnetic degrees of freedom was determined using results obtained on a non-magnetic isostructural compound. A Grüneisen analysis revealed that whilst the magnetic contribution to the specific heat is similar for both Pd2GdIn and Cu2GdIn the spontaneous magnetostriction was significantly smaller in the Pd compound. Forced magnetostriction measurements suggest that the thermal expansion in Pd2GdIn is primarily associated with spin fluctuations in the Pd 4d band. It is suggested that these additional degrees of freedom give rise to the enhanced specific heat observed in Pd2GdIn. Received 28 July 1999