Magnetic lock-in phase transition in Tb0.95Er0.05Ni5 driven by low magnetic fields

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 2013-09, Vol.341, p.129-132
• Main Authors: Lee, Heeju, Choi, Y.N., Pirogov, A.N., Kazantsev, V.A., Gerasimov, E.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Incommensurate magnetic structure; Integrated circuits; Lock-in phase; Magnetic field induced transition; Magnetic fields; Magnetic properties; Magnetic transition; Magnetism; Neutron diffraction; Phase diagrams; Phase transformations; Reflection
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2013.04.010

The magnetic properties of a mixed inter-metallic compound, Tb0.95Er0.05Ni5, were investigated using a neutron diffraction method at low temperatures. These compounds were known to have a successive magnetic phase transition from the paramagnetic state at high temperature to a lock-in phase at low temperature through intermediate phases, i.e., PM(paramagnetic)–FM(ferromagnetic)–IC(incommensurate)–L(lock-in) in reverse order of temperature. A meta-magnetic phase transition between an IC phase and a FM phase at 9K was observed with the critical field, HMT~200mT. A new magnetic phase between the new phase (lock-in phase) and an IC phase has been observed. From the field dependence of the Bragg reflections and their satellite peaks at low temperatures (3–12K), weak field driven first-order magnetic phase transitions were recorded at six fixed temperatures. The critical magnetic field decreases exponentially with the temperature. From these experimental results, we obtained a magnetic phase diagram of Tb0.95Er0.05Ni5 at a low temperature region for the first time. •A new magnetic phase diagram of Tb0.95Er0.05Ni5 in H-T space was obtained.•We observed a meta-magnetic phase transition from ICM to FM at HMT~200mT (T=9K).•A weak field (H