Magnetic properties of GdxY1−xNi5 alloys

Magnetic measurements have been performed on single crystals of Yni₅ and GdNi₅ and on polycrystalline samples of Gd_xY_1?xNi₅. YNi₅ is a Pauli paramagnet, the susceptibility of which is enhanced by exchange and slightly temperature dependent (χ = 23 × 10^?4 emu/mole at 4.2 K). In GdNi₅, where the anisotropy is very weak, a polarization of the d band opposite to the Gd magnetization is observed. At 4.2 K, this polarization is 0.16 ± 0.02μ_B/Ni. The decrease of this polarisation with decreasing magnetic interactions has been studied in Gd_xY_1?xNi₅-type alloys. It is concluded that the polarization is more homogeneous than that of cobalt observed in Gd_xY_1?xCo₂.