Crystal structure and magnetic ordering of RNi Si compounds

The element distributions and the magnetic ordering behaviour of compounds RNi₁₀Si₂ (R = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) have been studied by neutron powder diffraction down to temperatures of 1.6 K. The compounds crystallize in an ordered variant of the ThMn₁₂ structure type in the tetragonal space group P4/nmm. An ordered 1:1 distribution of Ni and Si on sites 4d and 4e, respectively, corresponds to a modulation vector [0, 0, 1] with respect to the space group I4/mmm of the ThMn₁₂ structure. TbNi₁₀Si₂ orders antiferromagnetically below T _N = 4.5 K with a magnetic propagation vector of [0, 0, 1/2]. The magnetic Tb moments, 8.97(2) /Tb atom at 1.6 K, are aligned along the c-axis. The Ni sites in TbNi₁₀Si₂ do not carry any ordered magnetic moments. The compounds with R = Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm are paramagnetic down to 1.6 K and 3.0 K, respectively. Received 10 July 2002 / Received in final form 12 September 2002 Published online 29 October 2002     

Magnetic order in RCr\mathsf{_{2}}Si\mathsf{_{2}} intermetallics

The magnetic structure and ordering temperatures of three intermetallic compounds which crystallize in the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂ structure, TbCr₂Si₂, HoCr₂Si₂ and ErCr₂Si₂, have been determined by neutron diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and magnetization measurements. The Cr-sublattice orders anti-ferromagnetically with Néel temperatures of 758 K for TbCr₂Si₂, 718 K for HoCr₂Si₂ and 692 K for ErCr₂Si₂. Chromium atoms located at 4d crystallographic sites are aligned anti-parallel along the c-axis, with G_ZCr magnetic modes. In contrast with metallic bcc Cr, the refined room temperature value of the ordered Cr moment is anomalously large for all three compounds. No long range magnetic order of the R sublattice in TbCr₂Si₂ and HoCr₂Si₂ is observed, whilst the Er sublattice in ErCr₂Si₂ orders independently of the Cr sublattice below 2.4 K with moments ferromagnetically aligned in the basal plane.Received: 4 November 2003, Published online: 30 January 2004PACS: 75.25. + z Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials (including neutron and spin-polarized electron studies, synchrotron-source X-ray scattering, etc.) - 75.30.Cr Saturation moments and magnetic susceptibilities - 75.50.Ee Antiferromagnetics     

Loss of ferromagnetism in YNi3 after H2 absorption

The compound YNi₃ ($\text{PuNi}{}_3\text{-}\text{type}\text{,}\text{a}\text{= 4.973}\text{A}\text{?}\text{,}\text{c}\text{= 24.42}\text{A}\text{?}$) is ferromagnetic below T_c = 35 K. After hydrogen absorption it loses its ferromagnetic character and becomes Pauli paramagnetic. The composition of the ternary hydride is approximately YNi₃H₄. The lattice constants are $\text{a}\text{= 5.267}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c}\text{= 26.57}\text{A}\text{?}$.     

Charge transfer and magnetic properties in amorphous alloys of Fe with Y,Th or Zr

Various amorphous alloys of Fe with Y, Th or Zr were prepared either by melt spinning or by vapour deposition. Magnetic and electrical-transport properties were studied. The alloys are either Pauli paramagnetic or show a random antiferromagnetic behaviour. In several of them we observed a negative temperature coefficient of the electrical resistivity. The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect was utilized to study the nature of charge transfer in these alloys. Indications were obtained that charge transfer in the amorphous as well as in the crystalline materials comprises s and d electrons in amounts of comparable magnitude.     

The influence of the conduction electrons on the EFG in amorphous intermetallic alloys

The quadrupole splitting in alloys is determined by the structural and electronic properties of the alloy. Only in cases where the density of states at the Fermi level is constant or known as a function of the concentration, relevant structural information can be obtained from the quadrupole splitting.     

Effect of ordering transformation rate on the magnetic properties of Fe–Pt-based bulk alloys

We have investigated the ordering transformation and magnetic properties of Fe_59.75Pt_39.5Nb_0.75 bulk alloys in detail by using different high-temperature homogenization treatments, different cooling rates and different low-temperature annealing treatments to obtain samples with different microstructure and different atomically ordered states. The quenching rate after the high-temperature homogenization treatment was chosen much lower than in previous investigations. In this way, we were able to obtain nanostructured bulk alloys consisting exclusively of the hard-magnetic face-centered-tetragonal phase. A high remanence ratio was obtained by profiting from the nanocomposite exchange coupling between nearest-neighbor-ordered regions. The present results are compared with results of previous investigations in which much higher cooling rates were applied. We also discussed why the present alloy systems are less suitable for the attainment of exchange spring behavior.     

Spin lattice relaxation in TmNi5 above its curie temperature

The hexagonal compound TmNi₅ was investigated by means of ¹⁶⁹Tm Mössbauer spectroscopy in the temperature range 4–350 K. Above T_c=4.5 K the magnetic hyperfine interactions were found to be governed by paramagnetic relaxation. This behaviour was interpreted in terms of a stochastic spin-down model. The spin lattice relaxation time was found to follow an exponential temperature dependence.     

Magnetic properties and magneto-optical spectroscopy of Heusler alloys based on transition metals and Sn

The formation and magnetic properties of Heusler compounds of the general formula X₂YSn were studied, where X represents a 3d transition metal or Cu and where Y represents a second 3d transition metal or a metal of group IV A, VA and VI A of the periodic table. The lattice constant was determined for all Heusler compounds studied. The Co moment in the Co₂YSn compounds was not found to scale in a sample manner to the electronegativity difference E φ^* between Co and the Y components as was previously observed in the series Co₂YAl and Co₂YGa. All compounds of the type Ni₂YSn were found to be Pauli paramagnetic when Y is non-magnetic metal. Compounds having a Curie temperature above room temperature were investigated by means of magneto-optical polar Kerr-effect spectroscopy. Experimental indications were obtained for charge transfer transitions in the series Co₂TiSn, Co₂HfSn.     

Magnetic properties of the ternary hydrides of Nd6Mn23 and Sm6Mn23

The intermetallic compounds Nd₆Mn₂₃ and Sm₆Mn₂₃ and their ternary hydrides were studied by X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure (Th₆Mn₂₃ type) is preserved after hydrogen absorption. From the change in lattice constants a volume increase of about 14% was deduced. The temperature dependence of the magnetization of Nd₆Mn₂₃, Sm₆Mn₂₃ and their hydrides was studied in the range 4–500 K. The uncharged compounds have magnetic ordering temperatures above 400 K while in the hydrides magnetic ordering occurs close to 200 K. Indications were obtained of a substantial weakening of the magnetic coupling between the rare earth and manganese sublattice magnetization.