Magnetic properties of equiatomic rare earth cadmium compounds

The magnetization processes obtained in monocrystalline samples are presented for the ferromagnetic compounds of the equiatomic rare earth cadmium series. They are discussed in terms of crystalline electric field and bilinear and quadrupolar pair interactions. A close similarity appears with the isomorphous series with zinc. The importance of quadrupolar interactions is emphasized. They are, for instance, strong enough in DyCd to enforce the fourfold axis as easy magnetization direction instead of the threefold one which would be driven by the only crystalline electric field. A discussion of the magnetic properties of dysprosium compounds having the CsCl-type structure is then given.