Magnetic properties of the (Pr,Dy)Ni sub 2 B sub 2 C solid solutions

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 1999-05, Vol.195 (2), p.366-375
• Main Authors: Kuznietz, M, Takeya, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0304-8853

Polycrystalline samples of the (Pr sub 1-x Dy sub x )Ni sub 2 B sub 2 C solid solutions with x=0, 0.09, 0.25, 0.50, and 1, were prepared and found by X-ray diffraction to crystallize in the BCT LuNi sub 2 B sub 2 C-type structure (space group I4/mmm) of the end compounds PrNi sub 2 B sub 2 C and DyNi sub 2 B sub 2 C, having close antiferromagnetic (AF) structures. The annealed samples were studied by low-field (LF, 20 Oe) and medium-field (MF, 1000 Oe) magnetization. MF DC- susceptibility yields paramagnetic values theta and mu sub eff which are compatible with those of the end compounds. LF magnetization indicates variable AF-ordering behavior across the system, with initial ordering below the respective T sub N of 15.0, 14.2, 4.5, 5.0, and 16.3 K. Extreme materials exhibit another transition at T sub 0 to a fully ordered AF state ( < 1.8 K for x=0, 3.5 K for x=0.09, 10.4 K for x=1), accounted for by two-step magnetic ordering procedure. It involves initial ferromagnetic order in the basal planes, followed by a build-up of the correct AF (alternate) stacking of these planes throughout the samples, completed at the lower transition, T sub 0 .